Compare towns
Chester vs Calais vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Calais | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,713Lowest |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Chester 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 |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Calais and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 9.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.