Compare towns
Brandon vs Townshend vs Windham 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).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
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 | Townshend | Windham | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
1,538 |
594Lowest |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Windham 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby and Windham 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% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Brandon and Derby 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 |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Windham and Derby 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 |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend 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 |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
— | $1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT |
| Derby and Townshend 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 |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Windham 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
8.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.