Compare towns
South Hero vs Calais vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hero has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | South Hero | Calais | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,586Lowest |
1,713 |
10,769Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
| South Hero and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| South Hero and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$118,977±$10k 47% above VT |
| South Hero and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$372,500±$20kLowest 18% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$221 17% above VT |
$1,408±$392Lowest 14% above VT |
$1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT |
| Milton and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,858Highest 56% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$5,610Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.6%±21Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Milton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| South Hero and Calais 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 |
| School district | South Hero School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Milton Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | 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.