Compare towns
Milton vs Ripton vs Worcester 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 highest household income ($119k).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Swanton has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,769Highest |
508Lowest |
831 |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% 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 |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| 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 11% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Milton School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Milton Senior High School | None in town | 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 | 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.