Compare towns
Brandon vs Waterville 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Waterville has the most renters (51.2% rent).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Waterville | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
17,077Highest |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below 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%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Waterville 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% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kHighest 21% below U.S. |
$53,580±$4kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
| Chester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Highest 25% below U.S. |
$978±$72 31% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Brandon and Waterville 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. |
$2,755Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterville 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 | #105 of 133 in ME | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Waterville Public Schools | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Waterville Senior High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
12.8Highest |
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.