Compare towns

Leicester vs Sutton vs Westminster vs Brandon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leicester has the most expensive homes ($310k median).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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.

MeasureLeicesterSuttonWestminsterBrandon
People
Population
1,026
790Lowest
2,999
4,120Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-10%
VT: +2.8%
-11.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-5.1%
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.8±3.8
13% above VT
46.6±5.7Lowest
8% above VT
53.5±3.7Highest
24% above VT
50.1±3.1
16% above VT
Westminster and Brandon 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%
17.3%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
18.2%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
19.2%±4.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
Brandon and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±6.7
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±2.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.6%±6.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.3%±4.1
VT: 21.4%
Westminster and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.9%
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
46.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.8
VT: 7%
4.4%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.7
VT: 7%
Westminster 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±$30k
13% below VT
$71,250±$18k
12% below VT
$71,491±$4kHighest
12% below VT
$64,180±$12kLowest
21% below VT
Westminster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$309,700±$107kHighest
about the VT average
$231,100±$41k
27% below VT
$273,800±$35k
14% below VT
$227,800±$23kLowest
28% below VT
Leicester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,098±$300Highest
11% below VT
—
$916±$126Lowest
26% below VT
$1,064±$225
14% below VT
Leicester and Brandon 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
$3,975
21% below VT
$4,063
19% below VT
$4,241Highest
16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±40.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
37.8%±31.1
VT: 48.4%
49.2%±7.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.7%±15.1
VT: 48.4%
Westminster 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%
12.4%
VT: 10.1%
8.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%
VT: 73.2%
85%
VT: 73.2%
88.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1951Lowest
25 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
20% above VT
30 minHighest
26% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
12.7%±5.9
VT: 16.9%
11.6%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
27%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.9%±5.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #53 of 70 in VT #69 of 70 in VT
School district — Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town — None in town Bellows Falls Union High School Otter Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.6Highest
9.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.