Compare towns
South Burlington vs Hartford vs Middlebury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.3%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
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 | South Burlington | Hartford | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,756Highest |
10,736 |
9,175Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.8 11% below VT |
43.2±3.9Highest about the VT average |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
| Hartford and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| South Burlington and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Hartford and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$13kHighest 31% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
| South Burlington and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,400±$19kHighest 40% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$409,700±$30k 29% above VT |
| South Burlington and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,787±$59Highest 45% above VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,156±$113Lowest 6% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,674 32% above VT |
$5,773Lowest 15% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 25% below VT |
18 minHighest 22% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| South Burlington 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 | #12 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | South Burlington School District | Hartford School District | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | South Burlington High School | Hartford High School | Middlebury Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
9.6Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.