Compare towns
Putney vs Manchester 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 most affordable homes ($300k median).
Manchester has the oldest population (median age 54.5).
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 | Manchester | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
4,486Highest |
2,598Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Manchester 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% |
25.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Manchester and Arlington 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% |
47.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
| Arlington and Manchester 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 |
$454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,057±$76 14% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
| Arlington and Manchester 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 |
$5,923Highest 18% above VT |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16% VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.8% VT: 73.2% |
84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 24% below VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
20 minHighest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Manchester 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 | #37 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 History | 6 photos → | 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.