Compare towns
Barre vs Milton vs Ripton vs Brandon
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).
Milton has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k 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 | Milton | Ripton | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,005 |
10,769Highest |
508Lowest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
| Brandon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
| Milton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
$372,500±$20k 18% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Ripton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399 24% above VT |
$1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT |
— | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below 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 |
$5,610Highest 11% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Milton and Ripton 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% |
3.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% VT: 73.2% |
86.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±2.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | #56 of 70 in VT | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Milton School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton Senior High School | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 9.9Highest |
| 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.