Compare towns
Vershire vs Middlebury vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Vershire | Middlebury | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 842 |
9,175Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±9.3 6% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Vershire and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,618±$12k 12% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Middlebury and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$80 9% below VT |
$1,156±$113Highest 6% below VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Middlebury and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,640 8% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 38% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury and Vershire 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 | — | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.