Compare towns
Chester vs Dummerston vs Mendon vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Brandon has the most renters (15.7% rent).
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 | Dummerston | Mendon | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
2,090 |
1,113Lowest |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
| Mendon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Mendon 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Mendon 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Dummerston and Mendon 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Mendon and Dummerston 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
| Dummerston and Mendon 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Mendon 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | 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 | 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.