Compare towns
Derby vs Epping vs Brandon vs Charleston
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 affordable homes ($225k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Brandon has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Charleston has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Epping | Brandon | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537 |
7,430Highest |
4,120 |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Charleston 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Charleston 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 |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$979±$444Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
$3,750 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Charleston 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 120 in NH | #69 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Epping School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
9.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.