What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).

Townsend has the most kids (21% 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	Middlebury	Townsend
People
Population	7,220Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	23.7±1.3Lowest 39% below U.S.	40.9±3.3Highest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	8.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middlebury and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	40.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,250±$18kLowest 7% above U.S.	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
	Townsend and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$417,400±$31kLowest 25% above U.S.	$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Townsend and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,201±$120Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.
	Townsend and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,795Highest 118% above U.S.	$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.6%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middlebury and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 45% below U.S.	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	19.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#17 of 70 in VT	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	—	North Middlesex
High school in town	—	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	6 photos →	None yet

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.