Compare towns
Brandon vs Derby vs Exeter vs Chittenden
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 the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Derby | Exeter | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
4,537 |
16,151Highest |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
| Derby and Chittenden 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% |
15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Exeter 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% |
36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Chittenden 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. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$106,250±$28k 32% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$346,800±$35k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,125±$488 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 36% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,346 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Derby 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.