What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k 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	Richford
People
Population	4,120Highest	2,467Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT	39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT
Kids under 18	19.2%±4.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	21.8%±4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Richford 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%	23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4%
	Richford 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%	20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%	6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7%
	Richford 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±$12kHighest 21% below VT	$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT
	Brandon and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,800±$23kHighest 28% below VT	$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT	$1,160±$66Highest 6% below VT
	Richford 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	$3,300Lowest 35% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Richford 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%	19.5%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Highest 25 yrs older than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	28 minHighest 18% above VT
Work from home	9.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9%	9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Brandon and Richford 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	Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88
High school in town	Otter Valley Union High School	Richford Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Highest	9.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.