Compare towns
Barre vs Milton vs Ripton vs Derby
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%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,005 |
10,769Highest |
508Lowest |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest 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 |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
| Derby 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%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Milton and Barre 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% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Derby 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$80,250±$8kLowest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% 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 |
— | $1,096±$118Lowest 11% 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 |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% VT: 73.2% |
86.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±2.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Milton School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.