What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brandon has the most people working from home (9.9%).

Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).

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	Wells River
People
Population	4,120Highest	340Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT	42.7±12.7Lowest about the VT average
	Brandon and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9%	17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Brandon and Wells River 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%	19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Brandon and Wells River 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%	16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7%	0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Brandon and Wells River 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	$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,800±$23kHighest 28% below VT	$170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT
	Brandon and Wells River 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	$900±$336Lowest 27% below VT
	Brandon and Wells River 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	$4,154Lowest 18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	47.6%±14.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Wells River 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%	38.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Highest 25 yrs older than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	34 minHighest 43% above VT
Work from home	9.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9%	5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Brandon and Wells River 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.