Compare towns

Barre vs Walpole 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

Barre has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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.

MeasureBarreWalpoleMilton
People
Population
8,005
3,690Lowest
10,769Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.4±4.2Highest
24% above U.S.
46.5±10.4
20% above U.S.
41.6±2.5Lowest
7% 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%
22.2%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.6%±3.4
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%
25.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±2.6Lowest
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%
32.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.3
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.
$82,617±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
$118,977±$10kHighest
47% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$281,400±$13kLowest
15% below U.S.
$319,800±$48k
4% below U.S.
$372,500±$20kHighest
12% above 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.
$1,165±$150Lowest
18% below 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
$4,737Lowest
52% above U.S.
$6,078Highest
95% above U.S.
$5,610
80% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.4%±20.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
53.1%±20.6Highest
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%
11.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
13.7%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±4.9Lowest
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 #27 of 120 in NH #56 of 70 in VT
School district Barre Unified Union School District #97 Fall Mountain Regional 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 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.