Compare towns
Brandon vs Ira 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 most kids (19.2% under 18).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Derby has the highest household income ($80k).
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 | Ira | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
381Lowest |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Lowest 16% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
| Ira and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Derby 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 VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
| Derby and Ira 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 |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% 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 | $4,241Highest 16% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | — | 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 |
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.