Compare towns
Vershire vs Brandon vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vershire has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Chelsea has the most expensive homes ($261k 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 | Vershire | Brandon | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 842Lowest |
4,120Highest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±9.3Lowest 6% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Vershire and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,618±$12kHighest 12% below VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$65,913±$13k 19% below VT |
| Vershire and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$260,900±$39kHighest 18% below VT |
| Chelsea and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$80 9% below VT |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,640Highest 8% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chelsea and Vershire 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | — | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.