Compare towns
Chester vs Dover 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%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | 2,992 |
1,466Lowest |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
| Dover and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Chester 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% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$64,180±$12kHighest 21% below VT |
| Brandon and Chester 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT |
| Brandon and Chester 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 |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brandon and Dover 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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 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.