Compare towns
Leicester vs Williston 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 homeowners (85.5%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Leicester | Williston | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
10,144Highest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.8 13% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Leicester and Brandon 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
| Williston 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±$107k about the VT average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,098±$300 11% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.