Compare towns
Brandon vs Chapman vs Mapleton vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Chapman | Mapleton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
388Lowest |
1,884 |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4 17% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Brandon and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$93,125±$17k 15% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
— | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 36% above U.S. |
$1,850 41% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brandon and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.