Compare towns

Putney vs Cambridge 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).
Cambridge has the most kids (23% under 18).
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.

MeasurePutneyCambridgeArlington
People
Population
2,622
3,767Highest
2,598Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+4.9%
VT: +2.8%
+6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
37.4±1.8
13% below VT
37.6±4Highest
13% below VT
Arlington and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
20.6%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
Cambridge and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±3.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Arlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
50.7%
VT: 43.8%
55.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.9%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
3.3%±1.7
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the VT average
$72,344±$19kLowest
11% 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±$44kLowest
5% below VT
$343,000±$38kHighest
8% above VT
$318,500±$59k
about the VT average
Cambridge and Arlington 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
$1,183±$66
4% below VT
$1,191±$172Highest
3% below VT
Arlington and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Highest
5% above VT
$4,910
about the VT average
$4,549Lowest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
66.6%±7.3
VT: 48.4%
77.1%±9.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
Arlington and Cambridge 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%
6.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
VT: 73.2%
70.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1985Highest
9 yrs newer than VT
1966Lowest
10 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
24% below VT
32 minHighest
38% above VT
20 min
13% below VT
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
VT: 16.9%
9.9%±4.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
35.9%±10.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #32 of 70 in VT #25 of 70 in VT #50 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Cambridge School District Arlington School District
High school in town None in town None in town Arlington Memorial
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.