Compare towns
Leicester vs Wells 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Wells | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,148 |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.8Lowest 13% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
| Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Wells 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% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Wells 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 |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
| Wells and Leicester 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 |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Leicester and Wells 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 |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
| Wells and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 24% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,241Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±5.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Leicester and Wells 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | 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.