Compare towns
Putney vs Athens vs Randolph vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Athens has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Putney | Athens | Randolph | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
431Lowest |
4,843Highest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Athens and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
| Arlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
| Arlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
| Arlington and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #55 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Randolph Union High School | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.