Compare towns
Mapleton vs Chester vs Brandon vs Castle Hill
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 highest household income ($92k).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
Brandon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
Castle Hill has the most affordable homes ($145k 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 | Mapleton | Chester | Brandon | Castle Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
2,992 |
4,120Highest |
281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
57.8±15.8Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Castle Hill and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Brandon 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% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
44.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester 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±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$54,250±$14kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$145,300±$18kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Chester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225Highest 25% below U.S. |
$950±$574 33% below U.S. |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 43% below U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
$1,449Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castle Hill and Brandon 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Mapleton 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Otter Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.9Highest |
— |
| 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.