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.
| Measure | Derby | Castle Hill | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| 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.


