Compare towns

Brandon vs Derby vs Dummerston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).

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.

MeasureBrandonDerbyDummerston
People
Population
4,120
4,537Highest
2,090Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.1±3.1
16% above VT
51.6±2.1Highest
20% above VT
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% above VT
Derby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.2%±4.3
VT: 17.9%
15.7%±3.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.3%±4.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.2%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
Derby and Dummerston 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%
36.8%
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.1
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
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 VT
$80,250±$8k
about the VT average
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
Dummerston 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
$225,000±$10kLowest
29% below VT
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,064±$225Lowest
14% below VT
$1,096±$118
11% below VT
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,241
16% below VT
$3,449Lowest
32% below VT
$4,536Highest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±15.1Lowest
VT: 48.4%
45.8%±18.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
Derby and Dummerston 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%
7.4%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1951Lowest
25 yrs older than VT
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
32 minHighest
38% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
Work from home
9.9%±5.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
10.6%±3.5
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
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 Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town Otter Valley Union High School 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

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.