What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).

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	Ryegate
People
Population	4,120Highest	1,059Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT	41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT
Kids under 18	19.2%±4.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Ryegate and Brandon 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%	22.1%±1.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Brandon and Ryegate 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%	29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7%	2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7%
	Brandon and Ryegate 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	$66,484±$15kHighest 18% below VT
	Ryegate 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±$23kHighest 28% below VT	$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT
	Brandon and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT	$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT
	Brandon and Ryegate 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	$3,472Lowest 31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4%
	Ryegate 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%	14.5%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	84.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Highest 25 yrs older than VT	1949Lowest 27 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%	8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Brandon and Ryegate 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	—
High school in town	Otter Valley Union High School	—
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.