Compare towns
Chester vs Williamson 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 most expensive homes ($233k median).
Williamson has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Williamson | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Lowest |
6,823Highest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
40.9±4.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Williamson 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±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% |
34.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Williamson 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. |
$90,515±$14kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$192,700±$18kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
| Chester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$659±$304Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225Highest 25% below U.S. |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$5,172Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brandon and Williamson 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williamson 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 | #221 of 484 in NY | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
8.3Lowest |
9.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.