Compare towns
Brandon vs Unity vs Derby
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Unity has the most expensive homes ($276k median).
Derby has the most people working from home (10.6%).
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 | Unity | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
1,375Lowest |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Lowest 29% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Unity 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 32% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Unity 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 25% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Derby 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5Highest 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby and Brandon 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 | Unity 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 |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.