Compare towns
Danby vs Middlebury vs Sutton vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Danby | Middlebury | Sutton | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
9,175Highest |
790Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Danby and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Middlebury and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
— | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury and Wardsboro 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 | — | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None 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.