Compare towns
Brandon vs Chittenden vs Dover vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Brandon | Chittenden | Dover | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
1,318Lowest |
1,466 |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Lowest 16% above VT |
50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
| Dover and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chittenden and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$106,250±$28kHighest 31% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Chittenden and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$346,800±$35kHighest 10% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Chittenden and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
| Chittenden and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$5,346Highest 6% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Derby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
28 min 21% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Chittenden 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.