What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

St. Johnsbury has the most people working from home (17.6%).

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	St. Johnsbury
People
Population	4,120Lowest	7,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT	42.8±3.8Lowest about the VT average
Kids under 18	19.2%±4.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	21%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9%
	St. Johnsbury 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%	21.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Brandon and St. Johnsbury 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%	30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%	5.6%±2.2Highest VT: 7%
	St. Johnsbury 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	$57,738±$9kLowest 29% below VT
	Brandon and St. Johnsbury 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	$177,700±$17kLowest 44% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT	$914±$44Lowest 26% below VT
	Brandon and St. Johnsbury 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	$3,916Lowest 22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	48%±11Highest VT: 48.4%
	St. Johnsbury 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%	16.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	59.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Highest 25 yrs older than VT	1944Lowest 32 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest about the VT average	20 minLowest 17% below VT
Work from home	9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	17.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	St. Johnsbury 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	#60 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.