Compare towns
Chester vs Dover vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Dover | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Lowest |
33,364Highest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.1±3.1Highest 29% 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 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 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+ | 33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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 U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Dover School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Dover Senior High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
12.7Highest |
9.9 |
| 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.