Compare towns
Brandon vs Sidney vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Sidney | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
4,790Highest |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester 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±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$83,488±$10kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Sidney 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±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 36% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brandon and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sidney and Chester 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | RSU 18 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.