Compare towns
Milton vs Westminster vs Ripton 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).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($285k 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 | Westminster | Ripton | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,769Highest |
497Lowest |
508 |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Swanton 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Swanton 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% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Westminster 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the VT average |
$112,917±$15k 39% above 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 |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$285,100±$35kLowest 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 |
$749±$315Lowest 39% 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 |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,449Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 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% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Milton School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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 | 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.