Compare towns
Putney vs Castleton vs Royalton 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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Royalton has the oldest population (median age 43.9).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Castleton | Royalton | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
4,453Highest |
2,752 |
2,598Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
43.9±10.1Highest about the VT average |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Royalton and Castleton 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Royalton and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
| Royalton and Arlington 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
| Arlington and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Castleton 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
20 minHighest 13% below VT |
20 minHighest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Royalton 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | White River Unified School District #79 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7Lowest |
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.