Compare towns
Brandon vs Appleton vs Chester vs Goshen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
Goshen has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
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 | Brandon | Appleton | Chester | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,360 |
2,992 |
142Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
58.9±8.3Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Goshen and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.6%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.3%±11.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Goshen and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±10Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kHighest 21% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$56,250±$33k 30% below U.S. |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$330,000±$115kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Goshen and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% 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 | $4,241 36% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$5,240Highest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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 | 14.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Goshen 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 | Appleton Public Schools | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.