Compare towns
Brandon vs Mapleton vs Springfield vs Union
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 population (median age 50.1).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Mapleton | Springfield | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
1,884Lowest |
9,084Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton 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% |
23.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Union 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Union 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. |
$192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Union and Brandon 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. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union 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. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Brandon 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
— |
| 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.