Compare towns
Brandon vs Barre 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%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% 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 | Barre | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
8,412Highest |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2% VT: +2.8% |
-10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
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%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Barre 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±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$70,417±$30kHighest 13% below VT |
| Leicester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$309,700±$107kHighest about the VT average |
| 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±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,098±$300Highest 11% below VT |
| Leicester and Barre 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 |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brandon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 25 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Leicester and Barre 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | — |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Spaulding Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.