Compare towns
Pittsford vs Brandon vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittsford has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Pittsford | Brandon | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,892Lowest |
4,120Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±6.3Lowest 11% above VT |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,705±$7kHighest 14% below VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Pittsford and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,000±$33kLowest 38% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
| Chester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $781±$167Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,378Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brandon and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Pittsford 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 | #54 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.