Compare towns
Barre vs Mapleton vs Williamstown vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
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 | Barre | Mapleton | Williamstown | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,005 |
1,884Lowest |
3,579 |
10,769Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
41.6±2.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Barre and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Mapleton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Williamstown 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 U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13k 15% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
$372,500±$20kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399 8% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,536±$257 9% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737 52% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
$5,610Highest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton and Williamstown 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT | #56 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Milton Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.