Compare towns
Addison vs Brandon vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the highest household income ($107k).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Addison | Brandon | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,175Lowest |
4,120Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6Highest 23% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
| Addison and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Addison and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7kHighest 31% above VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23kHighest 14% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831Highest 16% above VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Addison and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Addison 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Otter Valley Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.