Compare towns

Mapleton vs Brandon vs Middlesex vs Union

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Brandon has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

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.

MeasureMapletonBrandonMiddlesexUnion
People
Population
1,884Lowest
4,120Highest
1,943
2,663
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±6
7% above U.S.
50.1±3.1Highest
29% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% above U.S.
Brandon and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
24.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Brandon and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
32.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,731±$25k
14% above U.S.
$64,180±$12kLowest
21% below U.S.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
$80,724±$9k
about the U.S. average
Middlesex and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$227,800±$23k
32% below U.S.
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
$267,600±$42k
20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,064±$225
25% below U.S.
$1,333±$359Highest
6% below U.S.
$1,179±$452
17% below U.S.
Middlesex and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$4,241
36% above U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
$3,276
5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±15.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.6%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Brandon and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above U.S.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Union 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 RSU 79/MSAD 01 Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town None in town Otter Valley Union High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.9
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.