Compare towns
Brandon vs Dover vs Chittenden
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 the most affordable homes ($228k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Dover | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
33,364Highest |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.8±6.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Chittenden 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 U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$106,250±$28kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Chittenden and Dover 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. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$346,800±$35k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,125±$488 20% below U.S. |
| Dover and Chittenden 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. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,346 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Dover School District | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.