Compare towns
Pownal vs Exeter vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pownal has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Pownal | Exeter | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,265Lowest |
16,151Highest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Brandon and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,163±$21kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Pownal 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 | #67 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.