Compare towns
Chester vs Proctor vs Whitingham 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 people working from home (14%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
Whitingham has the most expensive homes ($262k 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 | Proctor | Whitingham | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,586 |
1,368Lowest |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
47.3±8.9 10% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% 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%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Proctor 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 |
$75,060±$12kHighest 8% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Proctor and Whitingham 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 |
$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
$262,300±$30kHighest 17% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
| Whitingham 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 |
$1,059±$200 14% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT |
| Brandon and Proctor 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 |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$4,241 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Brandon 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% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1951 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Proctor 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 | — | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | 7.8Lowest |
9.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.