Compare towns
Milton vs Middlesex vs Barre
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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
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 | Middlesex | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,769Highest |
1,943Lowest |
8,005 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
0%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
48.4±4.2Highest 12% above VT |
| Barre and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barre and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$93,210±$9kLowest 15% above VT |
| Milton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,500±$20k 18% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$281,400±$13kLowest 11% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
$1,524±$399 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 | $5,610 11% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,737Lowest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Milton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #56 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Milton School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| 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.