Compare towns
Brownington vs Northfield vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brownington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Brownington | Northfield | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,144Lowest |
5,920Highest |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.5±4.5 6% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
36.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.5 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,556±$17k 7% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT |
| Derby and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,912 22% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Northfield 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.