What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has the oldest population (median age 45.4).

Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bath	Middlebury
People
Population	8,815Lowest	9,175Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.4±3Highest 17% above U.S.	31.8±3.7Lowest 18% below U.S.
Kids under 18	15.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	11.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bath and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bath and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S.	$86,169±$16kHighest 7% above U.S.
	Middlebury and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S.	$409,700±$30kHighest 23% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S.	$1,156±$113Highest 18% below U.S.
	Middlebury and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S.	$6,868Highest 120% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.3%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	50.9%±14.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bath and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	65.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 9% below U.S.	16 minLowest 41% below U.S.
Work from home	19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bath 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	#31 of 133 in ME	#17 of 70 in VT
School district	RSU 01 - LKRSU	Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town	Morse High School	Middlebury Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	12.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.