Compare towns
Derby vs Lowell 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).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Derby | Lowell | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,070Lowest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Lowell 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 VT average |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% 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±$10k 29% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$227,800±$23kHighest 28% below VT |
| 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 11% below VT |
$945±$46Lowest 23% 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 | $3,449 32% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,241Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest 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 min 38% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Lowell School District | 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 Our Story | 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.