What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).

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	Orwell
People
Population	4,120Highest	1,294Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT	47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT
	Brandon and Orwell 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%	21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Orwell and Brandon 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%	24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4%
	Orwell 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%	22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%	3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7%
	Orwell 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	$70,417±$22kHighest 13% below VT
	Orwell and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT	$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT	$1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT
	Orwell and Brandon 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	$3,914Lowest 22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Orwell 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%	10.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	87.3%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	27 minHighest 15% above VT
Work from home	9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Orwell 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	—
School district	Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
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 History	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.