Compare towns

Brandon vs Mapleton vs Middlesex vs Goshen

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 oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 58.9).

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.

MeasureBrandonMapletonMiddlesexGoshen
People
Population
4,120Highest
1,884
1,943
142Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
50.1±3.1
29% above U.S.
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
58.9±8.3Highest
51% above U.S.
Goshen 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%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
10.6%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton and Middlesex 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%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
37.3%±11.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Goshen 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%
34.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±10Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex and Mapleton 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 U.S.
$91,731±$25k
14% above U.S.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
$56,250±$33kLowest
30% below U.S.
Middlesex and Mapleton 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.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
$330,000±$115k
about the U.S. average
Middlesex and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,064±$225
25% below U.S.
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,333±$359Highest
6% below U.S.
—
Middlesex 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.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
$5,240
68% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±15.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
—
Brandon and Mapleton 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%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
100%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
10% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
9.9%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±9.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Goshen 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 — — —
School district Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 RSU 79/MSAD 01 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
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 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.