What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Newfields	Brandon
People
Population	2,023Lowest	4,120Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S.	50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brandon and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfields and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.	$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.	$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S.	$1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.7%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newfields and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#69 of 70 in VT
School district	Newfields School District	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

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.