Compare towns
Brandon vs Chester vs Coventry
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 most people working from home (14%).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
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 | Coventry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
2,992 |
917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
45.2±5.2Lowest 5% above VT |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Coventry 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kHighest 21% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$59,342±$3kLowest 27% below VT |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
$197,900±$55kLowest 37% below VT |
| Chester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$755±$108Lowest 39% below VT |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
$2,375Lowest 53% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
1.5%±27.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 14.2% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Brandon 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 | Coventry School District |
| 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 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.