Compare towns
Underhill vs Reading vs Dummerston vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Underhill | Reading | Dummerston | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,141Highest |
699Lowest |
2,090 |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
| Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.1% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Underhill and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% 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 | $446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$318,500±$59kLowest about the VT average |
| Underhill and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
| Dummerston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | — | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.