Compare towns
Derby vs Whiting vs Mendon 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).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Brandon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
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 | Whiting | Mendon | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
532Lowest |
1,113 |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
| Mendon and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Mendon 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 |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting 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 |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting 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 |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Whiting 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | 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 | 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.