Compare towns

Barre vs Barton vs Milton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

MeasureBarreBartonMilton
People
Population
8,005
730Lowest
10,769Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%
VT: +2.8%
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.4±4.2Highest
12% above VT
40±5.5Lowest
7% below VT
41.6±2.5
3% below VT
Kids under 18
16.6%±3.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24.1%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.6%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
Barton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.7%±3.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
16%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Barre and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
21.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
33.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.2
VT: 7%
1.9%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
3.5%±1.3Highest
VT: 7%
Milton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,210±$9k
15% above VT
$40,833±$8kLowest
50% below VT
$118,977±$10kHighest
47% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$281,400±$13k
11% below VT
$146,900±$30kLowest
54% below VT
$372,500±$20kHighest
18% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,524±$399
24% above VT
$761±$150Lowest
38% below VT
$1,536±$257Highest
24% above VT
Milton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,737
6% below VT
$3,185Lowest
37% below VT
$5,610Highest
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.4%±20.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
58.8%±18.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
53.1%±20.6
VT: 48.4%
Barton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
25.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
52.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1945Lowest
31 yrs older than VT
1985Highest
9 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
4% below VT
31 minHighest
32% above VT
28 min
18% above VT
Work from home
13.7%±4.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.5%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.6%±2.9
VT: 16.9%
Barton and Milton 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 #19 of 70 in VT #38 of 70 in VT #56 of 70 in VT
School district Barre Unified Union School District #97 — Milton School District
High school in town None in town — Milton Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.3
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.