What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Hero has the oldest population (median age 51.5).

Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).

Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% 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 Hero	Middlebury
People
Population	1,586Lowest	7,220Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT	23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT
Kids under 18	14.8%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9%	8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4%	19.8%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.9% VT: 43.8%	61.9% VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7%	40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT	$86,250±$18kLowest 6% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT	$417,400±$31kLowest 32% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT	$1,201±$120Lowest about the VT average
	South Hero and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,858Highest 56% above VT	$6,795Lowest 35% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.6%±21Lowest VT: 48.4%	56.6%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Middlebury and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	15.2%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT	1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 4% above VT	15 minLowest 38% below VT
Work from home	26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9%	19.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	South Hero 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	—	#17 of 70 in VT
School district	South Hero School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.