Compare towns
Brandon vs Derby vs Gorham
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%).
Derby has the highest household income ($80k).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k 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 | Derby | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
4,537Highest |
2,682Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Lowest 29% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham 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% |
15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest 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% |
27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest 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% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham 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 U.S. |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Derby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10k 32% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Brandon and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118Highest 22% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Derby and Brandon 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. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Lowest 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby and Brandon 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 | #57 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.