Compare towns

Brandon vs Pomfret 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
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.

MeasureBrandonPomfretDerby
People
Population
4,120
908Lowest
4,537Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
-0.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.1±3.1Lowest
16% above VT
53.4±12.1Highest
24% above VT
51.6±2.1
20% above VT
Pomfret 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%
15.4%±6Lowest
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%
29.5%±6.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
27.2%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
Pomfret 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%
58%Highest
VT: 43.8%
36.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.7Highest
VT: 7%
1.4%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.1
VT: 7%
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 VT
$84,229±$8kHighest
4% above VT
$80,250±$8k
about the VT average
Pomfret 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
28% below VT
$399,200±$144kHighest
26% above VT
$225,000±$10kLowest
29% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,064±$225Lowest
14% below VT
$1,170±$98Highest
5% below VT
$1,096±$118
11% below VT
Pomfret and Derby 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
$6,722Highest
33% above VT
$3,449Lowest
32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±15.1
VT: 48.4%
24%±22.4Lowest
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%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
VT: 73.2%
81.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1951Lowest
25 yrs older than VT
1970
6 yrs older than VT
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
24 minLowest
about the VT average
32 minHighest
38% above VT
Work from home
9.9%±5.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
30.3%±10.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
10.6%±3.5
VT: 16.9%
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 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 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
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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.