Compare towns
Brandon vs Guildhall vs Lancaster 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
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Lancaster has the most renters (34.6% rent).
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 | Guildhall | Lancaster | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
371Lowest |
2,230 |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
22.6%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall 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% |
26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster 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. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$66,765±$20k 17% below U.S. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Guildhall 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 32% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118Highest 22% below U.S. |
| 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 36% above U.S. |
$4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,225 35% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #69 of 70 in VT | — | #107 of 120 in NH | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | — | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.