Compare towns
Milton vs Wells 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 most expensive homes ($373k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Wells | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,769Highest |
1,148Lowest |
8,005 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
0%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
| Wells and Barre 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells 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% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Milton and Wells 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 |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,500±$20kHighest 18% above VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT |
$1,313±$282Lowest 6% above 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 |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,737 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | 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.