Compare towns
Middlesex vs Milton vs Putney vs Montpelier
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Milton | Putney | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
10,769Highest |
2,622 |
8,014 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
41.6±2.5 3% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
| Milton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$372,500±$20k 18% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,302±$113 6% above VT |
| Milton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 29% above VT |
$5,610 11% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.1%±20.6 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 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 | 3.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
18 min 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | — | #56 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Milton School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton Senior High School | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.