Compare towns
Brandon vs Northfield vs Sandgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
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 | Northfield | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
5,920Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
| Sandgate and Brandon 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% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
| Northfield and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
— |
| Brandon and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Brandon 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1959Highest 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Northfield 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Northfield Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
10.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.