What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bradford has the most kids (20.1% under 18).

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	Bradford	Middlebury
People
Population	2,827Lowest	9,175Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.7±3.1Highest about the VT average	31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT
Kids under 18	20.1%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9%	11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	22.9%±5.8Highest VT: 21.4%	20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Bradford and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%	55.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.7%±1Lowest VT: 7%	32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,162±$15kHighest 33% above VT	$86,169±$16kLowest 6% above VT
	Bradford and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,600±$30kLowest 18% below VT	$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,221±$808Highest about the VT average	$1,156±$113Lowest 6% below VT
	Bradford and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,472Lowest 11% below VT	$6,868Highest 36% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.9%±23.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Middlebury and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%	10.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 same as VT	1976 same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 4% above VT	16 minLowest 33% below VT
Work from home	7.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%	18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#45 of 70 in VT	#17 of 70 in VT
School district	Oxbow Unified Union School District #91	Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town	Oxbow Union High School	Middlebury Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.