Compare towns
Chester vs Highgate 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%).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Highgate | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Lowest |
3,528 |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Highgate 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% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Highgate 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 |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$895±$691Lowest 27% 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 | $4,262Highest 15% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brandon and Highgate 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
9.8 |
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.