Compare towns
Brandon vs Appleton vs Chester vs Leicester
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
Leicester has the most expensive homes ($310k 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 | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,360 |
2,992 |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
48.8±3.8Lowest 25% 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 | 19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.1 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%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.7 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+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%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% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest 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±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$70,417±$30kHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Leicester and Brandon 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. |
$309,700±$107kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Leicester 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. |
$1,098±$300 22% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Leicester 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. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% 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% |
33.3%±40.4 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% 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. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above 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% |
12.7%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Leicester 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.