Compare towns
Brandon vs Lancaster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Lancaster has the most renters (24.9% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
3,216 |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above 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%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chittenden and Lancaster 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. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$106,250±$28kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Chittenden and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$346,800±$35kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,125±$488Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Chittenden and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 36% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,346Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brandon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chittenden and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | White Mountains Regional School District | 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 |
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.