Compare towns
Goshen vs Strafford vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 58.9).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Goshen | Strafford | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 142Lowest |
1,372 |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.9±8.3Highest 37% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
50.1±3.1Lowest 16% above VT |
| Goshen and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.6%±11.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Goshen and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±10Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,250±$33kLowest 31% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$115k 4% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Strafford and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
| Strafford and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,240 4% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Goshen 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 | — | Strafford School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.