Compare towns
Barre vs Milton vs Williamstown
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 oldest population (median age 48.4).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k 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 | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005 |
10,769Highest |
3,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2Highest 12% above VT |
41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown 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% |
16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Barre and Williamstown 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% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown 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±$9kLowest 15% above VT |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
$372,500±$20kHighest 18% above VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Lowest 24% above VT |
$1,536±$257 24% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| 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 6% below VT |
$5,610Highest 11% above VT |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.1%±20.6 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
3.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% VT: 73.2% |
86.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±2.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #56 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Milton School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton Senior High School | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
9.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.