Compare towns
Derby vs Peacham vs Reading 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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Peacham has the most renters (23.9% rent).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
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 | Peacham | Reading | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
887 |
699Lowest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
50.1±5.7Lowest 16% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
50.1±3.1Lowest 16% above VT |
| Derby and Reading 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% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham 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% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Reading 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Reading 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 |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
| Peacham and Reading 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 |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
| Reading and Peacham 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 |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$5,605 11% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Peacham and Reading 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% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 38% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Reading 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 | Peacham School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.