Compare towns

Brandon vs Reading vs Sutton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).

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.

MeasureBrandonReadingSutton
People
Population
4,120Highest
699Lowest
790
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
-11.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.1±3.1
16% above VT
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
46.6±5.7Lowest
8% above VT
Reading 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%
18.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±3.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Brandon and Reading 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%
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±2.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Reading 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%
46%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.7
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
Reading 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
$85,000±$19kHighest
5% above VT
$71,250±$18k
12% below VT
Reading and Sutton 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
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
$231,100±$41k
27% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,064±$225Lowest
14% below VT
$1,100±$331Highest
11% below VT
—
Reading and Brandon 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
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
$3,975Lowest
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±15.1
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
37.8%±31.1Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Reading 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%
8.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
85%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1951Lowest
25 yrs older than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
33 minHighest
41% above VT
30 min
26% above VT
Work from home
9.9%±5.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.6%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
Reading and Sutton 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 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school in town Otter Valley Union High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9
— —
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.