Compare towns
Brownington vs Derby vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brownington has the most kids (26.1% under 18).
Derby has the highest household income ($80k).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Brownington | Derby | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,144 |
4,537Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.5±4.5Lowest 6% below VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brownington and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,556±$17k 7% below VT |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
| Derby and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
$225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
| Jay and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
$1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT |
— |
| Derby and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,912Highest 22% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
32 minLowest 38% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Derby 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 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | None 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.