Compare towns
Middlebury vs Highgate vs Cambridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Cambridge has the most kids (23% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Middlebury | Highgate | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,175Highest |
3,528Lowest |
3,767 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
| Highgate and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$72,344±$19kLowest 11% below 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 | $409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
| Middlebury and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,183±$66Highest 4% below VT |
| Cambridge 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,910 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.6%±7.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Cambridge and Middlebury 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 33% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1Lowest 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | #25 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Cambridge School District |
| High school in town | Middlebury Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.