What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

Bradford has the highest household income ($108k).

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	Bradford
People
Population	4,120Highest	2,827Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT	42.7±3.1Lowest about the VT average
Kids under 18	19.2%±4.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	20.1%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9%
	Bradford 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%	22.9%±5.8Highest VT: 21.4%
	Bradford 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%	36.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7%	0.7%±1Lowest VT: 7%
	Brandon and Bradford 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	$108,162±$15kHighest 33% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT	$258,600±$30kHighest 18% below VT
	Bradford 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	$1,221±$808Highest about the VT average
	Bradford and Brandon 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	$4,472Highest 11% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4%	27.9%±23.4Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Brandon and Bradford 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%	2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	87.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT	1976Highest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	25 minHighest 4% above VT
Work from home	9.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9%	7.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Brandon and Bradford 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	#45 of 70 in VT
School district	Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53	Oxbow Unified Union School District #91
High school in town	Otter Valley Union High School	Oxbow Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Highest	9.5Lowest
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.