Compare towns
Brandon vs Hancock vs Stratton 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
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 | Hancock | Stratton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
435Lowest |
532 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below 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% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
34.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Hancock 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 |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Stratton and Hancock 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 |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Brandon and Stratton 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% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Hancock 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | — | — | 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.