Compare towns
Chester vs Reading vs Westminster 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%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Brandon has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Reading | Westminster | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
699 |
497Lowest |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
| Reading and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Reading and Westminster 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Reading and Westminster 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 |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
| Reading and Brandon 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1951 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Reading 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | 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 |
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.