Compare towns
Brandon vs Lyme 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%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
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 | Lyme | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,710 |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Lowest 25% 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chittenden and Lyme 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. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$106,250±$28k 32% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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 32% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$346,800±$35k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$488 20% below U.S. |
| Lyme 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,346 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Lyme 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.