Compare towns
Athens vs Brighton vs Derby Center
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Brighton has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Derby Center has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Athens | Brighton | Derby Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,167Highest |
693 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
61.1±7Highest 42% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
38.2%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Center and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
16.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.3%±3.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kHighest 16% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$58,250±$10k 28% below VT |
| Athens and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kHighest 24% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$196,600±$24k 38% below VT |
| Athens and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,078±$257 13% below VT |
| Athens and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
$2,505Lowest 50% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
51.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
16 minLowest 31% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
3.2%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Brighton School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.