Compare towns
Brandon vs Chittenden vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Chittenden | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,318Lowest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Lowest 16% above VT |
50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
| Dover and Chittenden 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% |
13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Chittenden 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% |
21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chittenden 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 VT |
$106,250±$28kHighest 31% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$346,800±$35kHighest 10% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Chittenden and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% 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 |
$5,346Highest 6% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Brandon and Dover 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% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Chittenden 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 | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.