Compare towns
Putney vs Worcester vs Chester 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).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Worcester | Chester | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
831Lowest |
2,992Highest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Chester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Arlington 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
| Arlington and Putney 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 |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
| Arlington and Worcester 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Worcester 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.