Compare towns
Putney vs Swanton vs Arlington vs Brookline
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($229k median).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Brookline has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
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 | Swanton | Arlington | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,670Highest |
2,598 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
| Brookline and Swanton 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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Arlington and Brookline 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% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Arlington and Brookline 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 |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Arlington and Putney 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 |
$1,238±$103 about the VT average |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,370Lowest 13% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16% VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Brookline 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 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.