What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newport has the most people working from home (16.8%).

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	Newport
People
Population	4,120Lowest	4,394Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT	46.4±4.3Lowest 8% above VT
	Brandon and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9%	13.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Brandon and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	25.8%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4%
	Newport 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%Highest VT: 43.8%	25.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%	2.8%±1.5Highest VT: 7%
	Newport 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±$12kHighest 21% below VT	$54,646±$12kLowest 33% below VT
	Brandon and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,800±$23kHighest 28% below VT	$179,400±$11kLowest 43% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT	$850±$49Lowest 31% below VT
	Brandon and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,241Highest 16% below VT	$4,036Lowest 20% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	48.2%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Newport and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%	23%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	57.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT	1966Highest 10 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest about the VT average	15 minLowest 38% below VT
Work from home	9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	16.8%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9%
	Newport and Brandon 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	#63 of 70 in VT
School district	Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53	Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District
High school in town	Otter Valley Union High School	North Country Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Lowest	10.7Highest
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.