Compare towns
Putney vs Wardsboro vs Stratton 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Stratton has the most kids (28% 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 | Wardsboro | Stratton | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
820 |
532Lowest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
| Stratton 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±$44k 5% below VT |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Stratton and Arlington 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 |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Wardsboro 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | 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 History | 6 photos → | 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.