Compare towns
Brandon vs Gray vs Hermon vs Derby
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
Gray has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Gray | Hermon | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Lowest |
8,429Highest |
6,727 |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
41.1±4.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% 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% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hermon 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% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2Highest 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% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Hermon 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. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$96,629±$22kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Hermon and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$333,600±$32k about the U.S. average |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Gray and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,406±$202Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
| Hermon and Gray 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. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$3,449 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Derby 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% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gray 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #54 of 133 in ME | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Hermon Public Schools | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Hermon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.5 |
14.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.