Compare towns
Putney vs Mendon vs Plainfield 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 renters (27.2% rent).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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.
| Measure | Putney | Mendon | Plainfield | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,314 |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Mendon and Plainfield 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Plainfield 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
| Arlington and Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Mendon 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 |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
| Mendon and Arlington 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Arlington 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 24% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Mendon 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 | — | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | — | Arlington School District |
| High school 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 | 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.