Compare towns
Waltham vs Middlebury vs Ferrisburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Ferrisburgh has the most kids (17.2% 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 | Waltham | Middlebury | Ferrisburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
9,175Highest |
2,661 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
45.5±4.9 6% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Ferrisburgh and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
51.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
$86,169±$16kLowest 6% above VT |
$106,989±$22kHighest 32% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT |
$409,700±$30k 29% above VT |
$422,700±$35kHighest 34% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Lowest 13% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$6,120 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ferrisburgh and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham 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 | #7 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| 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.