Compare towns
Brandon vs Chittenden 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%).
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,318Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
50.8±6.3Highest 18% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Chittenden and Brandon 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%±2.5Lowest 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%±4.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brandon and Chittenden 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$106,250±$28kHighest 31% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Chittenden and Putney 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 |
$346,800±$35kHighest 10% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Chittenden and Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest 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% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.