What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brandon	Middlesex
People
Population	4,120Highest	1,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT	44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT
	Brandon and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±4.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Middlesex and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±4.1Highest VT: 21.4%	20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Brandon and Middlesex 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 VT: 43.8%	54.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%	5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7%
	Middlesex and Brandon 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 VT	$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT	$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT	$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT
	Middlesex and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,241Lowest 16% below VT	$6,483Highest 29% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Brandon and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	96.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT	1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	27 minHighest 17% above VT
Work from home	9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#69 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	Otter Valley Union High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT 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.