Compare towns
Brandon vs Wells 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 the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Wells | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,148Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
| Wells and Brandon 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% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Wells 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% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Wells 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 |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Wells 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 |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Wells and Chester 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 |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Wells and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Brandon 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Wells 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | 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 |
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.