Compare towns
Brandon vs Derby vs Sutton
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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
4,537Highest |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Lowest 24% 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% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest 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% |
44.3%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% |
4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton 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 |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Derby 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. |
$7,652Highest 145% 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% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest 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 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| 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.