Compare towns
Derby vs Sheldon vs Brandon vs Lyndon
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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Lyndon has the shortest commute (23 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 | Sheldon | Brandon | Lyndon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537 |
2,267Lowest |
4,120 |
5,590Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
48.4±6.7 12% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±3.8 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
9.8%±2Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$68,786±$6k 15% below VT |
| Derby and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$227,000±$21k 28% below VT |
| Sheldon and Brandon 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,096±$123 11% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,241Highest 16% below VT |
$3,846 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
55.7%±15.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Lyndon 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.6% 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 |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±3.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Derby 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 | #44 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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 | 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.