Compare towns
Putney vs Stowe vs Castleton 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).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Stowe | Castleton | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
5,285Highest |
4,453 |
2,598Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Stowe and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe 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 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Castleton 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% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
| Arlington and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
| Stowe 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 |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Castleton 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
20 minHighest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Stowe 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Stowe Town School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.