Compare towns
Brandon vs Petersburgh 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Petersburgh has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
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 | Petersburgh | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
1,310Lowest |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Lowest 29% above U.S. |
51.3±6.3 32% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Derby and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Petersburgh 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brandon and Derby 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. |
$77,692±$15k 4% below U.S. |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Derby and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$170,300±$23kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10k 32% below U.S. |
| Brandon and Derby 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. |
$1,100±$630Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
| Petersburgh and Derby 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. |
$3,223Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$3,449 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.2%±42.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Petersburgh 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 Our Story | 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.