Compare towns
Brandon vs Sidney vs Derby vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Sidney | Derby | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
4,790Highest |
4,537 |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
| Derby and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Brandon 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 U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 36% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,449 11% above U.S. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sidney and Berlin 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #52 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | RSU 18 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.