Compare towns
Brandon vs Proctor vs Highgate 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%).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Proctor | Highgate | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
1,794Lowest |
3,528 |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby and Proctor 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Highgate 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 |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Highgate 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 25 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Derby 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
8.7Lowest |
9.8 |
— |
| 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.