Compare towns
Derby vs Middlesex vs Ripton 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 oldest population (median age 51.6).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Brandon has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Ripton | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,943 |
508Lowest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above 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%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
— | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,241 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Derby 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None 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 History | None yet | 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.