What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Shaftsbury	Arlington
People
Population	3,607Highest	2,598Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+6%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43±6.6Highest about the VT average	37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT
	Shaftsbury and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9%	20.6%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Shaftsbury and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4%	20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Shaftsbury and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	55.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%	3.3%±1.7Highest VT: 7%
	Arlington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,071±$24kLowest 6% above VT	$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT
	Arlington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,300±$24kLowest 16% below VT	$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average
	Arlington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT	$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT
	Arlington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,015Lowest 20% below VT	$4,549Highest 10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.7%±36Lowest VT: 48.4%	77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4%
	Arlington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest VT: 10.1%	7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	84%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT	1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 5% above VT	20 minLowest 13% below VT
Work from home	7.2%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#62 of 70 in VT	#50 of 70 in VT
School district	Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87	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

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.