Compare towns
Derby vs Westminster vs Windham 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).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Westminster | Windham | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
2,999 |
594Lowest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
| Westminster and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Brandon 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 |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
| Windham 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 29% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
— | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
| Derby and Brandon 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 |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Derby 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Windham 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | — | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| 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.