Compare towns
Derby vs Middlebury vs Newport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most homeowners (84.7%).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Newport has the most affordable homes ($179k 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 | Derby | Middlebury | Newport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537 |
9,175Highest |
4,394Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
46.4±4.3 8% above VT |
| Derby and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Derby and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Derby and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$54,646±$12kLowest 33% below VT |
| Middlebury and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$179,400±$11kLowest 43% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,156±$113Highest 6% below VT |
$850±$49Lowest 31% below VT |
| Middlebury and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,036 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
23%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1% VT: 73.2% |
57.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
16 min 33% below VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury and Newport 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | #17 of 70 in VT | #63 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | North Country Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.