What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).

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	Highgate	Middlebury
People
Population	3,528Lowest	9,175Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	44±7.4Highest about the VT average	31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%	11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Highgate and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%	20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Highgate and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%	55.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%	32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average	$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT
	Middlebury and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT	$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT	$1,156±$113Highest 6% below VT
	Middlebury and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,558Lowest 29% below VT	$6,868Highest 36% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Middlebury and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%	10.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT	1976Lowest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 32% above VT	16 minLowest 33% below VT
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9%
	Middlebury and Highgate 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	#43 of 70 in VT	#17 of 70 in VT
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town	Missisquoi Valley Union High School	Middlebury Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	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.