Compare towns
Brandon vs Richmond vs Williston 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
Richmond has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Richmond | Williston | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Lowest |
4,159 |
10,144Highest |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
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% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Williston 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% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby and Brandon 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% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Richmond 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 |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Richmond and Williston 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 |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Williston 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 | 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.