Compare towns
Chittenden vs Pendleton vs Rochester 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
Chittenden has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
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 | Chittenden | Pendleton | Rochester | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318Lowest |
7,034Highest |
1,389 |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
46.7±4.1Lowest 20% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6Highest 37% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Pendleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pendleton and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28k 32% above U.S. |
$113,750±$27kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Pendleton and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$294,300±$39k 12% below U.S. |
$253,600±$81k 24% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Chittenden and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Highest 20% below U.S. |
$994±$119 30% below U.S. |
$929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Chittenden and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 71% above U.S. |
$6,623Highest 112% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.6%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Pendleton 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 | — | #67 of 484 in NY | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.5Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.