Compare towns
Lyndon vs Brattleboro vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyndon has the highest household income ($69k).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Lyndon | Brattleboro | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,590 |
12,122Highest |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±6.7 12% above VT |
45.6±4.5Lowest 6% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±2Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Lyndon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,786±$6kHighest 15% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Lyndon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$21kLowest 28% below VT |
$257,300±$18kHighest 19% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Brattleboro and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$123Highest 11% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Lyndon and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,846Lowest 24% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±15.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Lyndon and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro and Chester 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 | #44 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.