What stands out worked out from the figures below

Essex has the most kids (22.4% under 18).

Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).

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	Essex	Middlebury
People
Population	11,516Highest	9,175Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	+7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.4±1.9Highest about the VT average	31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT
Kids under 18	22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9%	11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%	20.7%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4%
	Middlebury and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	55.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7%	32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT	$86,169±$16kLowest 6% above VT
	Essex and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT	$409,700±$30kLowest 29% above VT
	Essex and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT	$1,156±$113Lowest 6% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,602Lowest 31% above VT	$6,868Highest 36% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.9%±13.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Middlebury and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	10.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT	1976Lowest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 6% below VT	16 minLowest 33% below VT
Work from home	21.5%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9%	18.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Essex 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	#13 of 70 in VT	#17 of 70 in VT
School district	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51	Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town	None in town	Middlebury Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.6
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.