Compare towns
Brandon vs Mapleton vs Windham vs Chester
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Windham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,884 |
594Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Windham 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% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester 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. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Highest 25% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Brandon and Chester 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. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% 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% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brandon and Windham 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Chester 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | — | 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 | 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.