Compare towns
Brandon vs Mendon vs Berlin 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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Mendon | Berlin | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
1,113Lowest |
2,880 |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Lowest 16% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Berlin 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Mendon 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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Mendon and Berlin 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 |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
| Mendon and Berlin 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Berlin 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 History | None yet | 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.