Compare towns
Brandon vs Fairfield vs Derby
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).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Derby has the most people working from home (10.6%).
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 | Fairfield | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
1,938Lowest |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% 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% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield 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 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield 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 VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Fairfield 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 |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT |
| Derby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Highest 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Derby and Brandon 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High 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 Our Story | 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.