Compare towns
Brandon vs Chester vs Putney
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 homeowners (86.7%).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k 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 | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
2,992 |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below 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%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Putney and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Putney and Chester 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% 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 | $4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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 |
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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.