Compare towns
Chester vs Middlesex vs Plainfield 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
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
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 | Middlesex | Plainfield | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,943Lowest |
2,522 |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brandon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Plainfield School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | — | 9.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | 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.