Compare towns
Brandon vs Barnet vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Barnet has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Barnet | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,855 |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
47.7±5.3Lowest 11% above VT |
48.8±3.8 13% above VT |
| 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%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Leicester 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 VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Brandon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$67,386±$15k 17% below VT |
$70,417±$30kHighest 13% below VT |
| Leicester and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
$309,700±$107kHighest about the VT average |
| Leicester and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,098±$300Highest 11% below VT |
| Leicester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$4,489Highest 11% below VT |
$3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnet 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 | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.