Compare towns
Brandon vs Derby vs Mapleton vs Pownal
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 oldest population (median age 51.6).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Pownal has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Mapleton | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
4,537Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% 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%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Brandon 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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±$8k about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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±$10k 32% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32kHighest 23% below U.S. |
| Pownal and Brandon 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$944±$139 33% 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 | $4,241Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,449 11% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,560 14% 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% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal and Mapleton 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 | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | 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 | 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.