Compare towns

Derby vs Durham 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 oldest population (median age 51.6).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($498k median).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureDerbyDurhamBrandon
People
Population
4,537
10,681Highest
4,120Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.6±2.1Highest
33% above U.S.
20.1±0.2Lowest
48% below 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%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
6.5%±2Lowest
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%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
75.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
70.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,250±$8k
about the U.S. average
$112,070±$25kHighest
39% above U.S.
$64,180±$12kLowest
21% below U.S.
Durham 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.
$498,000±$45kHighest
50% above U.S.
$227,800±$23k
32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,096±$118
22% below U.S.
$1,302±$211Highest
8% below U.S.
$1,064±$225Lowest
25% below U.S.
Durham and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,449Lowest
11% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,241
36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.8%±18.5
U.S.: 51.1%
55.4%±19.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±15.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Durham 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%
12.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
53.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
Work from home
10.6%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Durham 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 #9 of 120 in NH #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 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.