Compare towns
Putney vs Thornton 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).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Arlington has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Thornton | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,799Highest |
2,598Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
37.6±4 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Arlington and Putney 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% |
19%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Arlington and Thornton 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% |
46.3%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% |
4.8%±2.9 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 |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
$102,308±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Arlington and Thornton 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. |
$351,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$318,500±$59k 4% below U.S. |
| Thornton and Arlington 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. |
$1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,191±$172 16% below U.S. |
| Thornton 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. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington and Thornton 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% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington and Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Thornton School District | 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 Our Story | 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.