Compare towns
Milton vs Ryegate 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Barre has the shortest commute (23 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 | Ryegate | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,769Highest |
1,059Lowest |
8,005 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5 3% below VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
48.4±4.2Highest 12% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate 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% |
22.1%±1.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ryegate 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% VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Milton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,500±$20kHighest 18% above VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,524±$399 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 |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,737 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ryegate 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% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Milton and Barre 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 | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| 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.