Compare towns
Brandon vs Middlesex 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 most affordable homes ($228k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brandon and Union 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Union 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brandon and Union 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Union 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.