Compare towns
Derby vs Carmel vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most people working from home (10.6%).
Carmel has the most expensive homes ($257k median).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Derby | Carmel | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
2,941Lowest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
46.4±4.5Lowest 19% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Derby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brandon 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±$8k about the U.S. average |
$82,188±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Carmel and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$256,800±$37kHighest 23% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
| Carmel and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,276±$187Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Carmel and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449 11% above U.S. |
$2,662Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,241Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carmel 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby and Brandon 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 | #77 of 133 in ME | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.