Compare towns
Brandon vs Chester vs Newfields
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
2,992 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Newfields 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Chester 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 U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfields and Brandon 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Newfields 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 |
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.