Compare towns
Brandon vs Chester vs Unity
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
2,992 |
1,375Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Chester 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% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Brandon 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. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Unity 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 32% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Unity and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brandon and Unity 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Unity 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.