Middlebury : Vermont

What Middlebury is like for active adults

Located in western Vermont near the New York border, Middlebury Vermont is home to one of America's top liberal arts colleges, Middlebury College. It has to be one of the top settings for a college town of anywhere, and has attracted many baby boomers who are making it their retirement community.

Two of the big attractions of Middlebury are it writers conferences and summer language programs. For example, annual Bread Loaf Writers' Conference is the oldest writer's conference in the U.S. Others would argue that its pretty scenery in the hills of the Champlain Valley and small town setting are tops.

The Middlebury campus is on a hill west of the village of Middlebury. Students at Middlebury refer to it as "Club Midd." There are quads and open spaces along with views of the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks. Old Stone Row is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The postmodern architect Robert Venturi said, "Middlebury looks like what everyone thinks an American campus should be but seldom is."

As a retirement community Middlebury offers small town charm and many cultural activities from the college. They can live in town or in some of the active adult and independent living communities being built here, such as Eastview (a non-profit adult community). A search on Yahoo Real Estate in late 2007 found 70 homes on the MLS with a median asking price of $296,000. There were 6 homes listed in the classifieds for a median asking price of $469,000.

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What is special about this retirement community

Vibrant downtown in a small college town. Recreational, intellectual and cultural amenities. Many non-profit volunteer opportunities. Great local hospital. Variety of housing types. Proximity to Burlington, VT. Middlebury has an excellent local bookstore, the Vermont Book Shop. This fixture in the local scene began in 1949. The books are presented thoughtfully in handsome, well-lit cases.

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What is not special about this retirement community

Vermont winters, if you don't appreciate cold weather. Middlebury is remote from any large city, although Burlington is not too far.

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What kinds of people like retiring here

People who like college towns and Vermont will love it in Middlebury

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Local economy is driven by

Education and tourism

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Climate and Physical Environment

Middlebury is located in west-central Vermont near Otter Creek falls. Middlebury is bordered by the foothills of the Green Mountains to the east.

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Cultural environment

The Breadloaf School of English and the Breadloaf Writers Conference provide a strong cultural infusion. The latter was the creation of Robert Frost. The summer foreign language schools are world famous. The Mahaney Center for the Arts serves as the college and community visual and performing arts facility. The Center hosts the Middlebury College Museum of Art, the Seeler Studio Theatre, dance theatre, music library, and a 370-seat recital hall.There are film programs in Dana Auditorium.

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Medical facilities

Porter Medical Center

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Transportation

Burlington International is 32 miles

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Valuable Links

Wikipedia on Middlebury
Middlebury City-Data
More community reviews at Topretirements
Mini-guide to retirement in Vermont
Middlebury College
Vermont Craig's List

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Facts about MIDDLEBURY

State: VT
Environment: College Town,Small Town,
City Population: Less than 10,000
Median age of Population: 25-44
Avg Jan Temperature: 0 -20
Median HH Income: 41,001-60,000
Average Home Price (MLS): $100,000-$200,000
Annual Property Tax on a $200,000 house: NA
Total Crime Index: 81-90 (low)
Cost of Living Index:
Culture Index: 101-110 (slightly above average)
State Sales Tax:
State Income Tax:
Name of the Guide: JFB48

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