What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

Bristol has the oldest population (median age 47.9).

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	Middlebury	Bristol
People
Population	9,175Highest	3,778Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT	47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT
Kids under 18	11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9%	12.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Bristol and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.9%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4%
	Bristol and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.4%Highest VT: 43.8%	41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7%	5.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT	$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT
	Middlebury and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT	$337,300±$46kLowest 7% above VT
	Middlebury and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,156±$113Lowest 6% below VT	$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT
	Bristol and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,868Highest 36% above VT	$5,978Lowest 19% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4%	47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Middlebury and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest VT: 10.1%	10.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	71.3%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 same as VT	1976 same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 33% below VT	25 minHighest 5% above VT
Work from home	18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9%	17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Middlebury and Bristol 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	#31 of 70 in VT
School district	Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55	Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61
High school in town	Middlebury Union High School	Mt. Abraham Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	11.9Lowest
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.