Compare towns

Derby vs Castle Hill 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 highest household income ($80k).
Castle Hill has the most affordable homes ($145k median).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).

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.

MeasureDerbyCastle HillBrandon
People
Population
4,537Highest
281Lowest
4,120
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.6±2.1
33% above U.S.
57.8±15.8Highest
49% above U.S.
50.1±3.1Lowest
29% above U.S.
Castle Hill and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.7%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
14.2%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brandon 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
U.S.: 17.2%
44.8%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.3%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±5.3Lowest
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±$8kHighest
about the U.S. average
$54,250±$14kLowest
33% below U.S.
$64,180±$12k
21% below U.S.
Derby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$225,000±$10k
32% below U.S.
$145,300±$18kLowest
56% below U.S.
$227,800±$23kHighest
32% below U.S.
Brandon and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,096±$118Highest
22% below U.S.
$950±$574Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,064±$225
25% below U.S.
Derby and Brandon 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.
$1,449Lowest
54% below U.S.
$4,241Highest
36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.8%±18.5
U.S.: 51.1%
75%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±15.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castle Hill and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
Work from home
10.6%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±9.8
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Derby and Castle Hill 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 — #69 of 70 in VT
School district Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District — Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town None in town — Otter Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.