Compare towns
Brandon vs Rochester vs Lyndon
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%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Lyndon has the youngest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Rochester | Lyndon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
1,389Lowest |
5,590Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
48.4±6.7Lowest 12% above VT |
| Rochester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Lyndon 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% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
9.8%±2Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$72,676±$8kHighest 11% below VT |
$68,786±$6k 15% below VT |
| Rochester and Lyndon 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 |
$253,600±$81kHighest 20% below VT |
$227,000±$21kLowest 28% below VT |
| Rochester 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 |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,096±$123Highest 11% below VT |
| Lyndon 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 |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$3,846Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.7%±15.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Lyndon 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±3.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Lyndon 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 | — | #44 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | 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 Our Story | 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.