Compare towns
Appleton vs Brandon vs Chester vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Brandon has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Appleton | Brandon | Chester | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
4,120Highest |
2,992 |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Appleton 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 | Appleton Public Schools | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.