Compare towns
Brandon vs Barre vs Chittenden
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Barre | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
8,005Highest |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
48.4±4.2Lowest 12% above VT |
50.8±6.3Highest 18% above VT |
| 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%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Brandon and Chittenden 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% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Chittenden 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 |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
$106,250±$28kHighest 31% above VT |
| Chittenden 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±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
$346,800±$35kHighest 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,125±$488 9% below VT |
| Barre and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,737 6% below VT |
$5,346Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barre 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% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chittenden 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 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| 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 |
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.