Compare towns
Brandon vs Sutton vs Wheelock 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%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Derby has the highest household income ($80k).
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 | Sutton | Wheelock | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
790 |
717Lowest |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
| Derby and Wheelock 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Wheelock 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% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
36.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wheelock 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 VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
| Derby and Sutton 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 |
$231,100±$41kHighest 27% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
| Sutton and Brandon 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 |
— | — | $1,096±$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 |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,449 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 26% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Sutton 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | 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 |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.