Compare towns
Chester vs Lee 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 homeowners (86.7%).
Lee has the most expensive homes ($353k median).
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 | Lee | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Lowest |
5,719Highest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Lee 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Lee 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. |
$83,750±$13kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Lee 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 30% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Lee 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. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Lee | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Lee Middle/High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
9.2 |
9.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | None yet |
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.