Compare towns
Brandon vs Guildhall vs Lyndon vs Chester
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 renters (15.7% rent).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Lyndon has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Guildhall | Lyndon | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
371Lowest |
5,590Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
42.6±7.8Lowest about the VT average |
48.4±6.7 12% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Brandon and Chester 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% |
22.6%±7.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Guildhall and Brandon 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% |
26.1%±5.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
9.8%±2Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Lyndon and Chester 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 |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above VT |
$68,786±$6k 15% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Guildhall and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$321,200±$62kHighest about the VT average |
$227,000±$21kLowest 28% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Guildhall 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 14% below VT |
$850±$717Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,096±$123Highest 11% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Lyndon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$4,625Highest 8% below VT |
$3,846Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.7%±15.2 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Guildhall and Lyndon 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% |
11.9% VT: 10.1% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.6% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±3.4 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Lyndon 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 | — | #44 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | — | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | — | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.