Compare towns
Brandon vs Richford vs Chester
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%).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Richford | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
2,467Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Richford and Chester 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 |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
| Chester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,160±$66Highest 6% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% 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 | $4,241 16% below VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 25 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Richford Junior/Senior High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
9.1 |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.