Compare towns
Chester vs Putney vs Underhill 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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k 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 | Putney | Underhill | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
2,622Lowest |
3,141 |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Underhill and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% 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 | $4,262 15% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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 → | 6 photos → | 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.