Compare towns

Putney vs Pepperell 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 most renters (27.2% rent).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k 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.

MeasurePutneyPepperellArlington
People
Population
2,622
11,663Highest
2,598Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
42.4±3.3Highest
9% above U.S.
37.6±4
3% below U.S.
Pepperell and Arlington 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%
20.1%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Arlington and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Arlington and Pepperell 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%
43.8%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%
5.7%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$124,073±$12kHighest
54% above U.S.
$102,308±$11k
27% above U.S.
Pepperell 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±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$482,100±$14kHighest
45% above U.S.
$318,500±$59k
4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,295±$238Highest
8% below U.S.
$1,191±$172
16% below U.S.
Pepperell and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$6,698Highest
115% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1Lowest
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%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
20 min
23% below U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7
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 #153 of 282 in MA #50 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 North Middlesex 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 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.