Compare towns
Derby vs Hermon 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 most people working from home (10.6%).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Brandon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
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 | Hermon | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537 |
6,727Highest |
4,120Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
41.1±4.7Lowest 6% above 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%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hermon and Brandon 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% |
20.4%±4.7Lowest 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% |
37.6%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% |
4.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hermon 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±$8k about the U.S. average |
$96,629±$22kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Hermon 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. |
$333,600±$32kHighest about the U.S. average |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,406±$202Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Hermon and Derby 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. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$4,241Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1Lowest 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% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer 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% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | #54 of 133 in ME | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Hermon Public Schools | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hermon High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.

