Compare towns
Chester vs Enosburgh vs Worcester 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%).
Enosburgh has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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.
| Measure | Chester | Enosburgh | Worcester | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
2,804 |
831Lowest |
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 |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 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% |
20.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Enosburgh 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 |
$63,828±$17k 21% below VT |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Worcester 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 |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
| Worcester and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT |
| Brandon and Worcester 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 |
$3,624Lowest 28% below VT |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Enosburgh and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
13.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
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 |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | #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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
10.4Highest |
— | 9.9 |
| 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.