Compare towns
Braintree vs Brighton vs Derby Center vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most homeowners (81%).
Brighton has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Derby Center has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.4%).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($304k median).
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 | Braintree | Brighton | Derby Center | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,167Highest |
693Lowest |
808 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4 35% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
61.1±7Highest 42% above VT |
48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
| Derby Center and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7 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+ | 33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
38.2%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Center and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
16.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±3.4 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$58,250±$10k 28% below VT |
$56,667±$19k 30% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$196,600±$24k 38% below VT |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 32% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,078±$257Highest 13% below VT |
$1,018±$91 18% below VT |
| Derby Center and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
$2,505Lowest 50% below VT |
$4,237Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest 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 | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
51.5% VT: 73.2% |
51.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
16 minLowest 31% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
3.2%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Brighton School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.