Compare towns

Brandon vs Cornish vs Derby

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Cornish has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
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.

MeasureBrandonCornishDerby
People
Population
4,120
1,816Lowest
4,537Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.1±3.1Lowest
29% above U.S.
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
51.6±2.1
33% above U.S.
Cornish 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
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Brandon and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.3%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.2%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish 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
U.S.: 35.7%
40.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Brandon and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$64,180±$12kLowest
21% below U.S.
$91,821±$2kHighest
14% above U.S.
$80,250±$8k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$227,800±$23k
32% below U.S.
$296,000±$69kHighest
11% below U.S.
$225,000±$10kLowest
32% below U.S.
Cornish and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,064±$225Lowest
25% below U.S.
$1,221±$227Highest
14% below U.S.
$1,096±$118
22% below U.S.
Cornish and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,241
36% above U.S.
$5,796Highest
86% above U.S.
$3,449Lowest
11% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±15.1
U.S.: 51.1%
40.5%±38.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.8%±18.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
Work from home
9.9%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Cornish 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 Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 Cornish School District 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
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.