Compare towns
Lyndon vs Reading vs Brandon vs Derby
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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Reading | Brandon | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,590Highest |
699Lowest |
4,120 |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±6.7Lowest 12% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
| Derby and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±2Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,786±$6k 15% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$123 11% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±15.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
32 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| 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.