Compare towns
Swanton vs Arlington vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($229k median).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Swanton | Arlington | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670Highest |
2,598 |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Arlington and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Arlington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103 about the VT average |
$1,191±$172Lowest 3% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Dummerston and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,370Lowest 13% below VT |
$4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 9% below VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Dummerston 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Arlington School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.