Compare towns
Brandon vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Chittenden
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Chittenden has the most expensive homes ($347k 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 | Mapleton | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,360 |
1,884 |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.8±6.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Chittenden and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest 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+ | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Brandon 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Chittenden 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$106,250±$28kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Chittenden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$346,800±$35kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,125±$488Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Chittenden and Appleton 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. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,346Highest 71% 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% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as 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 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chittenden 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.