Compare towns
Milton vs Ripton 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 the youngest population (median age 41.6).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Ripton | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,769Highest |
508Lowest |
8,005 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
0%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.4±4.2Highest 12% above VT |
| Barre and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Milton and Barre 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Barre 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$93,210±$9kLowest 15% above VT |
| Milton and Ripton 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$281,400±$13kLowest 11% below VT |
| Ripton 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 |
— | $1,524±$399Lowest 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 | $5,610Highest 11% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,737Lowest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Milton and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Milton School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.