Compare towns
Putney vs Somerset 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).
Somerset has the most expensive homes ($419k 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.
| Measure | Putney | Somerset | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
18,298Highest |
2,598Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
47±2.2Highest 21% above U.S. |
37.6±4 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Arlington and Somerset 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% |
25.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Somerset 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%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% |
4.7%±1.3 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 |
$112,677±$6kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$102,308±$11k 27% above U.S. |
| Somerset 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. |
$418,800±$18kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$318,500±$59k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,271±$93Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,191±$172 16% below U.S. |
| Somerset and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,977 60% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington and Somerset 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±2.9Lowest 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 | #132 of 282 in MA | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Somerset Berkley Regional High School | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.