Compare towns
Putney vs Hardwick vs Andover 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).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($383k median).
Arlington has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Hardwick | Andover | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,965Highest |
616Lowest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
— | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Andover and Hardwick 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% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Hardwick 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% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Andover 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% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
| Andover 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 |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Andover 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 |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
| Andover and Arlington 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 |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Andover 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Andover 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | — | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.