Compare towns

Brandermill vs Smithfield

65 miles apart. The biggest differences: street grid (2.9× in Brandermill) and rent (+49% in Brandermill).

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Brandermill, VAAn outdoors townVirginia · 13,730 people

Smithfield, VAA colonial town, settled 1752Virginia · 8,834 people

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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

BrandermillAn outdoors town

Outdoors#45 most trails in VA12 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves Schools#78 for schools in VAof 219 towns HealthHealthier than 81%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Brandermill →

SmithfieldA colonial town, settled 1752

HistorySettled in 17527 places on the National Register SchoolsBetter than 80%of VA districts

Outdoors#91 most trails in VA11 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves All about Smithfield →

The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Street grid2.9×

Brandermill has the more walkable street grid

Brandermill 94.3Smithfield 32.1

Rent+49%

Rent runs higher in Brandermill

Brandermill $1,782Smithfield $1,195

Homeowners+12.6 pts renters

Brandermill has more renters

Smithfield 82.3%Brandermill 69.7%

Bachelor’s degree++12.2 pts

More adults in Brandermill have a degree

Brandermill 49.1%Smithfield 36.9%

★ What stands out · Report cards

Brandermill places higher on 13 of 20 VA lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Virginia ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety

–BrandermillNot graded B−SmithfieldSafer than 48% of U.S. towns

Schools

B−BrandermillBetter than 49% of districts in the state A−SmithfieldBetter than 80% of districts in the state

Health

A−BrandermillHealthier than 81% of U.S. towns BSmithfieldHealthier than 59% of U.S. towns

13Brandermill

6Smithfield

Lists won, of 20 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Most walkableOutdoors · 255 towns #59#210 Most conserved landOutdoors · 243 towns #226#144 Cheapest rentCost of living · 254 towns #134#72 Most activeHealth · 255 towns #79#139 Fewest smokersHealth · 255 towns #85#142 Most trailsOutdoors · 216 towns #45#91 Shortest commuteGetting around · 255 towns #104#154 HealthiestHealth · 254 towns #103#149

Left end = #1 in Virginia. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Brandermill’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $190 more a month in Smithfield

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Brandermill$2,220/mo

Typical home $376K (Census) · tax rate 0.78% · or rent about $1,782/mo · Housing →

Smithfield$2,400/mo

Typical home $407K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.80% · or rent about $1,195/mo · Housing →

The difference: $190 a month, about $2,300 a year, between Smithfield and Brandermill.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

BrandermillSmithfield

Snow a year10″3″

January low—32°F

July high—87°F

Growing season (days)—238d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)47th 34th

Outdoors & history

BrandermillSmithfield

Trails12 mi 11 mi

Conserved land0.3%3.6%

Settled—1752

National Register places—7

Archive photos—18

Famous people born here—12

Community

BrandermillSmithfield

Library hours a week—46 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

65 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

BrandermillVA SmithfieldVA

Brandermill ↔ Smithfield65 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs Virginia average

BrandermillSmithfield

People

Population 13,730Highest 8,834Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +4.2%Lowest VA: +7.9% +5.5%Highest VA: +7.9%

Median age 42.8±2.1Lowest 10% above VA 46.3±3.4Highest 19% above VA

Smithfield and Brandermill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 20.4%±3.7Highest VA: 21.7% 18.3%±3.1Lowest VA: 21.7%

Brandermill and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 21.8%±2.2Highest VA: 16.7% 18.6%±2.6Lowest VA: 16.7%

Brandermill and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 49.1%Highest VA: 42.2% 36.9%Lowest VA: 42.2%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.2%±1.7Lowest VA: 6.9% 7.4%±2.8Highest VA: 6.9%

Smithfield and Brandermill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $107,396±$8kLowest 15% above VA $113,158±$13kHighest 21% above VA

Smithfield and Brandermill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $376,000±$14kHighest about the VA average $374,900±$18kLowest about the VA average

Brandermill and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,782±$60Highest 13% above VA $1,195±$150Lowest 24% below VA

Property taxmedian, yearly $2,944Lowest 6% above VA $2,991Highest 7% above VA

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 45.6%±8.2Lowest VA: 48.5% 54.4%±15Highest VA: 48.5%

Smithfield and Brandermill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 7.8%Highest VA: 9.9% 5.4%Lowest VA: 9.9%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 69.7%Lowest VA: 67.3% 82.3%Highest VA: 67.3%

Typical home builtmedian year 1987Lowest 3 yrs newer than VA 1992Highest 8 yrs newer than VA

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 26 minLowest 7% below VA 28 minHighest about the VA average

Work from home 20.5%±4.2Highest VA: 18.3% 15.2%±5.3Lowest VA: 18.3%

Brandermill and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 5.1%Lowest 11.7%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 13.8 miLowest 14.3 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.10Lowest 1.22Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Richmond (19%)Newport News (23%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in SmithfieldFew work in Brandermill

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0.3%Lowest 3.6%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 12.2 miHighest 10.7 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.7 miHighest 1.0 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 6Highest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 94.3Highest 32.1Lowest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #78 of 219 in VA #112 of 219 in VA

School district Chesterfield County Public SchoolsIsle of Wight County Public Schools

High school in town Clover Hill HighNone in town

Students per teacherat that high school 15.1 —

Virginia average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Brandermill neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Brandermill’s Town Square.

Smithfield neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Smithfield’s Town Square.

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Bordering Brandermill

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Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

Brandermill vs Smithfield

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they differ most

Brandermill places higher on 13 of 20 VA lists

A typical home costs $190 more a month in Smithfield

What daily life feels like in each

65 miles apart

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

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Bordering Brandermill

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