Compare towns

Derby vs Gorham 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).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

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.

MeasureDerbyGorhamBrandon
People
Population
4,537Highest
2,682Lowest
4,120
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.6±2.1
33% above U.S.
53.9±3.6Highest
39% above U.S.
50.1±3.1Lowest
29% above U.S.
Gorham 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%
12.5%±3.9Lowest
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%
31.7%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.3%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Gorham 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Gorham and Brandon 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
$61,275±$7kLowest
24% 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.
$161,600±$49kLowest
51% 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.
$838±$83Lowest
41% 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
$3,449Lowest
11% above U.S.
$4,334Highest
39% above U.S.
$4,241
36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.8%±18.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±20.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±15.1
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
Work from home
10.6%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
1.7%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Derby and Brandon 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 #57 of 120 in NH #69 of 70 in VT
School district Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town None in town Gorham High School Otter Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.0Lowest
9.9Highest
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.