Compare towns
Brandon vs Appleton vs Pittsford
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%).
Pittsford has the most affordable homes ($197k 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 | Pittsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,892 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
47.7±6.3Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Brandon and Appleton 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% |
15.1%±5.2Lowest 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%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Pittsford 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% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Pittsford 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. |
$69,705±$7kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Pittsford 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±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$197,000±$33kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Brandon 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. |
$781±$167Lowest 45% 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 | $4,241Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,378Lowest 8% 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% |
18.5%±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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Appleton and Pittsford 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 | — | #54 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Appleton Public Schools | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | 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 |
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.