Compare towns
Lyndon vs Mendon vs Derby vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyndon has the youngest population (median age 48.4).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Lyndon | Mendon | Derby | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,590Highest |
1,113Lowest |
4,537 |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±6.7Lowest 12% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.6±2.1 20% 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 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 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+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±2Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,786±$6k 15% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
| Mendon and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$21k 28% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$123 11% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
| Mendon and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,846 24% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±15.2 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 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 | #44 of 70 in VT | — | #52 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | 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.