Compare towns
Putney vs Windham vs Fair Haven 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Windham | Fair Haven | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
16,038Highest |
2,724 |
2,598Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
37.6±4 3% below U.S. |
| Windham and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Arlington and Fair Haven 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$102,308±$11k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$318,500±$59k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$830±$116 41% below U.S. |
$1,191±$172 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,865Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 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 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #66 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.