Compare towns

Brandon vs Brattleboro 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%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).

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.

MeasureBrandonBrattleboroChittenden
People
Population
4,120
12,122Highest
1,318Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
-1.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.1±3.1
16% above VT
45.6±4.5Lowest
6% 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%
19%±2.8
VT: 17.9%
13.8%±2.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Brandon and Brattleboro 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%
25.5%±3.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.8%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Brattleboro 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%
46.5%
VT: 43.8%
51.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.7Lowest
VT: 7%
4.1%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
3.8%±1.6
VT: 7%
Brattleboro and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$64,180±$12k
21% below VT
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below VT
$106,250±$28kHighest
31% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$227,800±$23kLowest
28% below VT
$257,300±$18k
19% below VT
$346,800±$35kHighest
10% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,064±$225Lowest
14% below VT
$1,074±$58
13% below VT
$1,125±$488Highest
9% below VT
Chittenden and Brattleboro 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
$5,700Highest
13% above VT
$5,346
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±15.1
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±9.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
14.8%±55.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Brattleboro and Brandon 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%
17.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
VT: 73.2%
58.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1951Lowest
25 yrs older than VT
1955
21 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
19 minLowest
19% below VT
28 minHighest
21% above VT
Work from home
9.9%±5.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±4Highest
VT: 16.9%
15%±3.6
VT: 16.9%
Brattleboro and Chittenden 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 #33 of 70 in VT —
School district Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Barstow Unified Union School District #49
High school in town Otter Valley Union High School Brattleboro Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Highest
9.0Lowest
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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.