Compare towns
Leicester vs Orwell vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Leicester | Orwell | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,294 |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.8 13% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
| Brandon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Leicester and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$30kHighest 13% below VT |
$70,417±$22kHighest 13% below VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,700±$107k about the VT average |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Orwell and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,098±$300 11% below VT |
$1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
| Orwell and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$4,241Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Leicester 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.