Compare towns
Brandon vs Augusta 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
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 | Augusta | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
19,077Highest |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
48.8±3.8 25% above U.S. |
| Brandon and Leicester 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% |
18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Augusta 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% |
21.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Leicester 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Augusta and Brandon 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. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% 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±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$309,700±$107kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Leicester 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. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,098±$300Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Leicester 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. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta 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% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta 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 | #119 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Cony | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
17.9Highest |
— |
| 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.