Compare towns
Milton vs Reading vs South Hero
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 youngest population (median age 41.6).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
South Hero has the most expensive homes ($558k 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 | Reading | South Hero |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,769Highest |
699Lowest |
1,586 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT |
| South Hero and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.8%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and South Hero 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Milton and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
| South Hero 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±$20kLowest 18% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,439±$221 17% above VT |
| Milton and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,610Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$7,858Highest 56% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Milton 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| South Hero and Reading 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 | — | — |
| School district | Milton School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | South Hero School District |
| 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.