Compare towns

Chester vs Enosburgh vs Hampton 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 people working from home (14%).
Enosburgh has the most kids (21% under 18).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Brandon has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureChesterEnosburghHamptonBrandon
People
Population
2,992
2,804
1,145Lowest
4,120Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.7±4.7
28% above U.S.
40.6±3.9Lowest
4% above U.S.
43.1±14.7
11% above 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%
21%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.9%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Enosburgh 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
U.S.: 17.2%
17.9%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.3
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Enosburgh 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.
$63,828±$17k
21% below U.S.
$73,796±$8kHighest
9% below U.S.
$64,180±$12k
21% below U.S.
Hampton 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±$44kHighest
30% below U.S.
$223,100±$39k
33% below U.S.
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$227,800±$23k
32% below U.S.
Chester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$960±$44
32% below U.S.
$852±$87Lowest
40% below U.S.
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$1,064±$225
25% below U.S.
Hampton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,262Highest
37% above U.S.
$3,624
16% above U.S.
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$4,241
36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
11.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±11.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±15.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Enosburgh 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%
13.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
14%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Chester and Enosburgh 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 #26 of 70 in VT — #69 of 70 in VT
School district Green Mountain Unified School District #77 Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 — Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town Green Mountain Union High School Enosburg Falls Middle/High School — Otter Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.7Lowest
10.4Highest
—
9.9
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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.