Compare towns
Chester vs Thornton 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 youngest population (median age 49.7).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Thornton | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
2,799Lowest |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Thornton 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest 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%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest 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% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Thornton 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. |
$90,022±$17kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Thornton 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. |
$351,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Thornton and Brandon 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. |
$5,032Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton 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% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Thornton School District | 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 |
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.