Compare towns
Brandon vs Ripton vs Jay 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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.
| Measure | Brandon | Ripton | Jay | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
508 |
471Lowest |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 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%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% 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 | $4,241 16% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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.