Compare towns
Barre vs Brandon vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most people working from home (13.7%).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Barre | Brandon | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
4,120Lowest |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2Lowest 12% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
| Derby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,210±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Barre and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
| Barre and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737Highest 6% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Derby and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Barre and Derby 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.