Compare towns
Chester vs Arlington vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
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 | Chester | Arlington | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
2,598Lowest |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% 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 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 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+ | 33.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Arlington and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
| Arlington and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #49 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Arlington School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Arlington Memorial | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
10.6Highest |
9.9 |
| 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.