Compare towns
Putney vs Ripton vs Walpole 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Walpole | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
508Lowest |
3,690Highest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
37.6±4 3% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Arlington 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Walpole 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% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%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% |
20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$102,308±$11k 27% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$318,500±$59k 4% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Walpole 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. |
— | $1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,191±$172Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Arlington and Walpole 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Lowest 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington and Ripton 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 | — | #27 of 120 in NH | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.