Compare towns

Holderness vs Brandon vs Ashland

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the highest household income ($108k).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Ashland has the most renters (35.9% rent).

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.

MeasureHoldernessBrandonAshland
People
Population
1,917Lowest
4,120Highest
2,183
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.4±7.4Lowest
about the U.S. average
50.1±3.1Highest
29% above U.S.
42.3±11.2
9% above U.S.
Brandon and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±9.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Ashland and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.4%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.3%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Holderness and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ashland and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,863±$45kHighest
34% above U.S.
$64,180±$12k
21% below U.S.
$54,607±$9kLowest
32% below U.S.
Holderness and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,100±$60kHighest
9% above U.S.
$227,800±$23k
32% below U.S.
$227,000±$29kLowest
32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,068±$385Highest
46% above U.S.
$1,064±$225Lowest
25% below U.S.
$1,096±$155
22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,923Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,241
36% above U.S.
$4,961Highest
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.5%±21.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±15.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.1%±14.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Brandon and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
21.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
9.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #69 of 70 in VT —
School district Holderness School District Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 Ashland School District
High school in town None in town Otter Valley Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.9
—
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.