Compare towns
Brandon vs Chester 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%).
Chester has the youngest population (median age 49.7).
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.
| Measure | Brandon | Chester | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
2,992 |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% 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% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Chester 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Chester 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 |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$106,250±$28kHighest 31% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$346,800±$35kHighest 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
| Chittenden 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 |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$5,346Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Brandon and Chittenden 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chittenden and Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.