What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).

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	Brighton
People
Population	4,537Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT	45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT
	Derby and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9%	18.3%±5.7Highest 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%±4.2 VT: 21.4%	27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.8%Highest VT: 43.8%	25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7%	4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7%
	Brighton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average	$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$225,000±$10kHighest 29% below VT	$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT	$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,449Highest 32% below VT	$3,360Lowest 33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4%	55%±17Highest VT: 48.4%
	Brighton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%	22%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT	1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 38% above VT	33 minHighest 41% above VT
Work from home	10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	12.4%±8.1Highest VT: 16.9%
	Brighton 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	Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District	Brighton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.