Compare towns
Derby vs Dover vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the highest household income ($80k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Dover | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,466Lowest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
50.1±3.1Lowest 16% above VT |
| Dover 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 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| 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±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
| Derby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Derby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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 History | None yet | 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.