Compare towns
Clarendon vs Hope vs Mapleton 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
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Brandon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
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 | Clarendon | Hope | Mapleton | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,460 |
1,748Lowest |
1,884 |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.3±4.1Highest 34% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Clarendon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Clarendon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,609±$12kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $220,900±$32k 34% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$305 22% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Hope and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,740 20% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,241Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±27.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Clarendon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 40% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Mapleton 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 | — | — | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Mill River Union High School | None in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | — | 9.9Highest |
| 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.