Compare towns
Pownal vs Sutton vs Upton 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).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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.
| Measure | Pownal | Sutton | Upton | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,265Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal and Brandon 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,163±$21kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.2 |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.