Compare towns
Barre vs Epping vs Derby 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
Barre has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Epping | Derby | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
7,430 |
4,537 |
4,120Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 24% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Epping 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,210±$9k 15% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Epping and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13k 15% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399 8% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Epping and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737 52% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Barre 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #52 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Epping School District | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 9.9Highest |
| 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.