What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has the oldest population (median age 60.5).

Middlebury has the most kids (8.5% under 18).

Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% 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	Jackson	Middlebury
People
Population	897Lowest	7,220Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S.	23.7±1.3Lowest 39% below U.S.
Kids under 18	4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	8.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Middlebury and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jackson and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	61.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	40.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S.	$86,250±$18kLowest 7% above U.S.
	Jackson and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S.	$417,400±$31kLowest 25% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S.	$1,201±$120Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Jackson and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,001Lowest 92% above U.S.	$6,795Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.6%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middlebury and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	15.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 30% below U.S.	15 minLowest 45% below U.S.
Work from home	22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jackson 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	—	#17 of 70 in VT
School district	Jackson School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	6 photos →

U.S. 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.