Compare towns
Brandon vs Derby vs Gray
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Gray has the most expensive homes ($364k 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 | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Lowest |
4,537 |
8,429Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Gray 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% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Brandon 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% |
44.8%Highest 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% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray 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±$12kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Gray 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 32% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray 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% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gray 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 | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| 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.