Compare towns
Brandon vs Derby vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
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).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($347k 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 | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
4,537Highest |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Derby and Sharon 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 VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brandon and Derby 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 VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
| Sharon 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 28% below VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sharon 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 | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | 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 |
VT 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.