Compare towns
Derby vs Nelson 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 oldest population (median age 51.6).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
648Lowest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brandon and Derby 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 |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Derby 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. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Nelson 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 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.