Compare towns
Milton vs Fairlee vs Colchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Colchester has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Milton | Fairlee | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,769 |
1,066Lowest |
17,648Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5 3% below VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
39.3±1.4Lowest 9% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Colchester and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
10.9%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$97,891±$9k 21% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,500±$20k 18% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$394,400±$25kHighest 25% above VT |
| Colchester and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,474±$122 19% above VT |
| Milton and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,610 11% above VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,471Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.2%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
74.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
20 minLowest 15% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
19%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Colchester and Fairlee 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 | — | #18 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Milton School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | Milton Senior High School | None in town | Colchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.