A friendly mountain community between Middlebury and Rutland
Bordering the Green Mountain National Forest, Brandon offers a slow pace of life and small-town living in Rutland County. This rural community has a walkable center surrounded by forests and farms. “It’s the main town in the area, halfway between Middlebury and Rutland,” says Marty Feldman, the owner of Rowe Real Estate who lives and works in Brandon. “It’s got nice, central, classic downtown streets radiating out from the center.” The Neshobe River flows through the center of Brandon, past locally owned restaurants, shops, art galleries and nearly 250 buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. “Brandon is close to outdoor activities, has a decent school system and a strong arts community,” Feldman adds. “It’s got everything you need: stores, supermarkets, a medical center, and it’s a beautiful-looking town. It’s got a uniquely friendly, civic-minded population. The longstanding joke is you have to lock your cars so people don’t put things in them, like extra cucumbers and tomatoes!”
Walkable residential streets in the heart of Brandon
Within walking distance of Brandon’s historic downtown, narrow residential streets are lined with homes and sidewalks, while a handful of homes are on the rural outskirts. Architectural styles include Victorian and Cape Cod homes, some of which have been restored and renovated from their original 19th-century stylings. The median single-family home price is about $330,000; however, prices range from about $170,000 to $800,000, with top prices typically attached to home spanning over 3,000 square feet. “Now with Airbnb, there are some second homes – maybe 10 to 20%, like everywhere – but it’s mostly residential,” Feldman says. “Like all towns in the area, there is a fair amount of short-term rentals available. But it’s not a resort community; it’s not Stowe or Killington with 80% of homes as second homes.” The town also boasts an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, the lowest possible score.
The local dining and shopping scene in Brandon
Most of Brandon’s locally owned restaurants and small businesses are concentrated along Center Street. Robert Barral, French-born owner and chef of Café Provence, serves French cuisine and teaches cooking classes using locally sourced ingredients. Foley Brothers Brewing is a family-owned and operated establishment serving small-batch craft beer in a rustic red barn setting. The Bookstore, a small, community-supported independent bookshop, was born when Brandon’s prior bookstore was set to close in the same building in 2019. Groceries are available at Hannaford.
Brandon’s community events and attractions
Community spirit is alive and well in Brandon. Every summer, The Brandon Inn organizes a free concert series called Music at the Riverbend, and Estabrook Park hosts the Brandon Carnival, a multi-day event with rides, food vendors and a Battle of the Bands. The Fourth of July brings fireworks, a parade and live music to Park Street. Year-round, the Brandon Artists’ Guild showcases the work of local artists, and The Brandon Museum and Visitors Center preserves a slice of 19th-century history: It’s the birthplace of Stephen Douglas, the lawyer and statesman who famously debated Abraham Lincoln in 1858.
Outdoor recreation at the foot of the Green Mountains
Outdoor recreation opportunities abound in and around Brandon. Residents can meet up at Estabrook Park’s tennis courts and athletic fields. The Neshobe Golf Club is open to the public and hosts tournaments on its par-72, 18-hole championship course featuring rolling fairways with mountain views; golfers can grab a bite to eat for lunch or dinner at the club’s restaurant, The Long Iron, where the menu features salads, burgers and sandwiches. North of the community, Moosalamoo National Recreation Area has 16,000 acres of forest and 70 miles of hiking trails, and families can have a beach day at Branbury State Park on the shores of Lake Dunmore.
The Otter Valley Unified School District
The Otter Valley Unified School District, rated C-minus on Niche, serves the area. Students may begin at Neshobe School, rated C-minus. In addition to educating kids through sixth grade, Neshobe School has a resident flock of chickens that provides students with hands-on learning experience. In 2017, a third-grade project raised money for a coop; students and community members have cared for the chickens ever since, “adopting” them over weekends and holidays to ensure that they’re fed and healthy. Otter Valley Union Middle and High School, rated C, serves grades seven through twelve and boasts a 95% graduation rate. High schoolers have school choice in Vermont, so students here can apply to attend any public high school in the state, regardless of district boundaries.
U.S. Route 7 connects Brandon to other New England communities
The historic downtown area is walkable; otherwise, Brandon is a car-dependent town, though public bus options are available. U.S. Route 7 runs north-south through the community, and the Middlebury Connector takes bus passengers 16 miles up the highway to Middlebury and 16 miles south to Rutland. Vermont Translines buses also follow U.S. Route 7, transporting passengers between Albany, about 100 miles south, and Burlington International Airport, about 50 miles north. Greyhound and Tri-Valley Transit buses serve the area as well. Rutland Regional Medical Center is a hospital about 17 miles southeast.
