Compare towns
Putney vs Dalton vs Randolph vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Dalton has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Dalton | Randolph | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
6,256Highest |
4,843 |
2,598Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
37.6±4 3% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$102,308±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| 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 10% below U.S. |
$295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$318,500±$59kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| 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 64% below U.S. |
$872±$70 38% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,191±$172Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Arlington and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 70 in VT | #192 of 282 in MA | #55 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Central Berkshire | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | Randolph Union High School | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
9.4Lowest |
10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.