Compare towns
Shaftsbury vs Middlesex vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k 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 | Shaftsbury | Middlesex | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,607Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43±6.6 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
| Middlesex and Shaftsbury 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 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% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Arlington 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
| Middlesex and Arlington 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Arlington 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
| Middlesex and Arlington 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Middlesex 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 | #62 of 70 in VT | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.