Compare towns
Barre vs Milton vs Walpole
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 most affordable homes ($281k median).
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005 |
10,769Highest |
3,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.6±2.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| Barre and Walpole 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% |
17.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Barre 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% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Milton 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. |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$372,500±$20kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Milton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399 8% above U.S. |
$1,536±$257Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Milton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$5,610 80% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton and Walpole 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% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton and Barre 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 | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Milton School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.