Compare towns
Milton vs Ripton vs Colchester
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 affordable homes ($373k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Colchester has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,769 |
508Lowest |
17,648Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5 3% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
39.3±1.4Lowest 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Colchester 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
10.9%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$97,891±$9kLowest 21% 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±$20kLowest 18% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$394,400±$25kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT |
— | $1,474±$122Lowest 19% above VT |
| Milton and Colchester 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 |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,471 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.2%±10.6Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 15% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
19%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Colchester and Ripton 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 | — | #18 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Milton School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | Milton Senior High School | None in town | Colchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 11.8Highest |
| 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.