Compare towns

Brandon vs Derby vs Windham

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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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.

MeasureBrandonDerbyWindham
People
Population
4,120Lowest
4,537
19,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.1±3.1
29% above U.S.
51.6±2.1Highest
33% above U.S.
41.8±1.8Lowest
7% 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%
19.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
22.3%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
27.2%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
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%
44.2%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%
3.9%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Windham 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
$107,934±$14kHighest
34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$227,800±$23k
32% below U.S.
$225,000±$10kLowest
32% below U.S.
$388,900±$22kHighest
17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,064±$225Lowest
25% below U.S.
$1,096±$118
22% below U.S.
$1,232±$332Highest
13% below U.S.
Windham and Derby 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.
$3,449Lowest
11% above U.S.
$3,938
26% 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%
32.7%±14.7Lowest
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%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
9.9%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #69 of 70 in VT #52 of 70 in VT #95 of 133 in ME
School district Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District RSU 14
High school in town Otter Valley Union High School None in town Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Lowest
—
12.1Highest
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.