Compare towns
Brandon vs Swanton 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%).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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 | Swanton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
2,670Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% 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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$66,607±$27kHighest 18% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Swanton 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 28% below VT |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
| Chester and Swanton 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 |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Swanton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brandon and Swanton 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% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1952 24 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest 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 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | — | 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 |
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.