Compare towns
Brandon vs Ossipee vs Chester
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Ossipee has the highest household income ($91k).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Ossipee | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
4,521Highest |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Brandon and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Ossipee 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 32% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,401Highest 41% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.