Compare towns
Addison vs Middlebury vs Williston vs Danby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the oldest population (median age 53.1).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Addison | Middlebury | Williston | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175 |
9,175 |
10,144Highest |
1,133Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6Highest 23% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
| Addison and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Addison and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7k 31% above VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$77,321±$13kLowest 5% below VT |
| Williston and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23k 14% above VT |
$409,700±$30k 29% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
| Williston and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$1,832±$130 48% above VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
| Addison and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831 16% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,543Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | Middlebury Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.