Compare towns
Derby vs Middlesex vs Brandon vs Charleston
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Middlesex | Brandon | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,943 |
4,120 |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$238,000±$53k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$979±$444Lowest 21% below VT |
| Middlesex and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
$3,750 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.