Compare towns
Milton vs Peru 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 most homeowners (86.9%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($285k 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 | Peru | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,769Highest |
434Lowest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Peru 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest 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% |
21.4%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Peru and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Milton and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,977±$10k 47% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$81,371±$14kLowest about the VT average |
| Peru and Milton 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 |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$285,100±$35kLowest 10% below VT |
| Peru 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 |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,257±$133Lowest about the VT average |
| Milton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,610Highest 11% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,449Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Milton and Swanton 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% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Milton School District | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Milton Senior High School | — | 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.