Compare towns

Athens vs Derby vs Vershire

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Derby has the highest household income ($80k).
Vershire has the most kids (19.1% 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.

MeasureAthensDerbyVershire
People
Population
431Lowest
4,537Highest
842
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-0.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-7.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.3±6.5
10% above VT
51.6±2.1Highest
20% above VT
45.7±9.3Lowest
6% above VT
Derby and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
15.7%±3.6
VT: 17.9%
19.1%±4.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Vershire and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±4.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.2%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.2%±5
VT: 21.4%
Derby and Vershire 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%
36.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
31.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
Vershire and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,438±$30kLowest
16% below VT
$80,250±$8kHighest
about the VT average
$71,618±$12k
12% below VT
Derby and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$240,400±$32kHighest
24% below VT
$225,000±$10k
29% below VT
$209,100±$55kLowest
34% below VT
Athens and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$537Highest
9% below VT
$1,096±$118Lowest
11% below VT
$1,117±$80
9% below VT
Athens and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,438Highest
8% above VT
$3,449Lowest
32% below VT
$4,640
8% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±39Lowest
VT: 48.4%
45.8%±18.5
VT: 48.4%
77.8%±24.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
Vershire and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%
VT: 10.1%
7.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
19.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
1985Highest
9 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
53% above VT
32 minLowest
38% above VT
32 minLowest
38% above VT
Work from home
19.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
10.6%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±4.1
VT: 16.9%
Athens and Vershire 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 —
School district — Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District —
High school in town — None in town —
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.