Compare towns
Benson 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
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Derby has the highest household income ($80k).
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 | Benson | Brandon | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
4,120 |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
50.1±3.1Lowest 16% above VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
| Benson and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
| Derby and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Benson and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
| Benson and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$4,241Highest 16% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 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.