Compare towns
Milton vs Fairlee vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the highest household income ($119k).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,769Highest |
1,066Lowest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Fairlee and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,500±$20kHighest 18% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| Milton and Swanton 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 |
$4,449Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2Lowest 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% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee 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 | #56 of 70 in VT | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Milton School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Milton Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.