What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby Line has the most affordable homes ($201k median).

Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Derby Line	Brookline
People
Population	783Highest	531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.7±13.3Highest 8% above VT	45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT
	Derby Line and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9%	20%±6Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Derby Line and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4%	19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Derby Line and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%	41.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7%	3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%
	Derby Line and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,518±$25kLowest 12% below VT	$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average
	Brookline and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT	$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$835±$334Lowest 32% below VT	$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,275Lowest 35% below VT	$5,000Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4%
	Brookline and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Highest VT: 10.1%	6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83%Lowest VT: 73.2%	84.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT	1975Highest 1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 3% above VT	28 minHighest 21% above VT
Work from home	13.5%±9.8Lowest VT: 16.9%	20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Brookline and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.