Compare towns
Milton vs Peru vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the most people working from home (14.6%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($203k median).
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 | Peru | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,769Highest |
6,710Lowest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5 7% above U.S. |
40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±5.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Swanton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Peru and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swanton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peru 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 U.S. |
$101,771±$22k 26% above U.S. |
$81,371±$14kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Milton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,500±$20kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$203,200±$38kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$285,100±$35k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,536±$257Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,067±$173Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,257±$133 11% below U.S. |
| Milton and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,610Highest 80% above U.S. |
$4,357Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,449 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
23 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton and Peru 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 | #347 of 484 in NY | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Milton School District | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Milton Senior High School | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.