What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	South Burlington	Middlebury
People
Population	20,756Highest	9,175Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.3%Highest VT: +2.8%	+7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	38.2±1.8Highest 11% below VT	31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT
Kids under 18	19%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9%	11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	20.7%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4%
	Middlebury and South Burlington 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%	55.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2Lowest VT: 7%	32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,667±$13kHighest 31% above VT	$86,169±$16kLowest 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	$409,700±$30kLowest 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	$1,156±$113Lowest 6% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,674Lowest 32% above VT	$6,868Highest 36% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Middlebury and South Burlington 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%	10.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	65.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT	1976Lowest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minHighest 25% below VT	16 minLowest 33% below VT
Work from home	19.6%±3.3Highest VT: 16.9%	18.8%±4.1Lowest 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	#17 of 70 in VT
School district	South Burlington School District	Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town	South Burlington High School	Middlebury Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.