Compare towns
Brandon vs Derby vs Plainfield vs Berlin
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).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Plainfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
4,537Highest |
2,522Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
| Derby and Berlin 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Berlin 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%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% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Berlin 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 36% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% 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% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below 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% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Berlin 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Plainfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 Our Story | 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.