Compare towns
Brandon vs Ripton vs Middlesex 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Ripton | Middlesex | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
508Lowest |
1,943 |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest 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% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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 |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above 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% |
0%±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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%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 |
1986Highest 10 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 |
27 min 17% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.