Compare towns
Brighton vs Derby vs Morrisville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Derby has the most homeowners (84.7%).
Morrisville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Brighton | Derby | Morrisville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
4,537Highest |
2,664 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+6.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
45.3±6 5% above VT |
| Derby and Morrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
10.6%±5.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Morrisville and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$68,240±$15k 16% below VT |
| Derby and Morrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
$276,300±$20kHighest 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,289±$116Highest 4% above VT |
| Morrisville and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,449 32% below VT |
$4,542Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.5%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Morrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Morrisville and Brighton 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 | — | #52 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.