Compare towns
Sunderland vs Bristol vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sunderland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
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 | Sunderland | Bristol | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,269Lowest |
3,778Highest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±2.8 5% below VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
| Bristol and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sunderland and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bristol and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±3.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,523±$16k 9% above VT |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
| Arlington and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$43kLowest 5% below VT |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Bristol and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,413±$242Highest 15% above VT |
$1,275±$181 3% above VT |
$1,191±$172Lowest 3% below VT |
| Sunderland and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±61.5 VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #31 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.