Compare towns
Barre vs Putnam 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
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Putnam | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005 |
540Lowest |
10,769Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 24% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.6±2.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Putnam 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milton and Putnam 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. |
$92,344±$14kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13k 15% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$372,500±$20kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Lowest 8% above U.S. |
— | $1,536±$257Highest 9% above 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 | $4,737 52% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,610Highest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton and Barre 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% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±2.9Highest 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 |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Milton Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.