What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brandon has the shortest commute (24 min average).

Belvidere has the highest household income ($82k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brandon	Belvidere
People
Population	4,120Highest	422Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT	40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT
	Brandon and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±4.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	22%±4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Belvidere and Brandon 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%	8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%	35.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7%	1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Brandon and Belvidere 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	$81,563±$18kHighest about the VT average
	Belvidere 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±$23kLowest 28% below VT	$239,200±$51kHighest 24% below VT
	Belvidere 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	$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT
	Belvidere and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,241Highest 16% below VT	$3,908Lowest 22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Belvidere 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%	5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	86.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT	1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	38 minHighest 60% above VT
Work from home	9.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9%	9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Brandon and Belvidere 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	—
High school in town	Otter Valley Union High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.