Compare towns
Barre vs Putney vs Milton
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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005 |
2,622Lowest |
10,769Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2Highest 12% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
41.6±2.5 3% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.6%±3.4Highest 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%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barre and Putney 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13kLowest 11% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$372,500±$20kHighest 18% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399 24% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT |
| Milton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737Lowest 6% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,610Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.1%±20.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±2.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #56 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.