Compare towns
Brandon vs Dorset vs Chittenden
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 affordable homes ($228k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Dorset | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
2,092 |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
50.8±6.3Highest 18% above 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%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Brandon 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% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brandon and Dorset 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% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
51.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Chittenden and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
| Dorset and Chittenden 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 |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,125±$488 9% below VT |
| Dorset and Chittenden 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 |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,346 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset 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 VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| 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.