Compare towns
Orleans vs Middlebury vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orleans has the oldest population (median age 41.7).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% 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 | Orleans | Middlebury | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 809 |
9,175Highest |
730Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.7±5.8Highest 3% below VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
40±5.5 7% below VT |
| Orleans and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $156,300±$18k 51% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $810±$94 34% below VT |
$1,156±$113Highest 6% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$3,185 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 33% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury and Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | Middlebury Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.