What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).

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	Putney
People
Population	4,120Highest	2,622Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT	37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT
Kids under 18	19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9%	15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Brandon and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±4.1Highest VT: 21.4%	18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Brandon and Putney 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%	48.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%	20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT	$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average
	Putney 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	$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT	$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT
	Brandon and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,241Lowest 16% below VT	$5,313Highest 5% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Putney 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%	16%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT	1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest about the VT average	18 minLowest 24% below VT
Work from home	9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9%
	Putney 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	#32 of 70 in VT
School district	Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
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.