Compare towns
Kirby vs Brandon vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kirby has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Brandon has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
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 | Kirby | Brandon | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 756Lowest |
4,120Highest |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±7.1Lowest 10% below VT |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 30%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Kirby and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Brandon and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Kirby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,792±$21kLowest 33% below VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$66,484±$15kHighest 18% below VT |
| Ryegate and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,900±$63kHighest 4% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
| Kirby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,250±$326Highest about the VT average |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Kirby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,597Highest 9% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ryegate and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1951 25 yrs older than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 43% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±9.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Kirby and Brandon 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school 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 |
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.