Compare towns
Charleston vs Brighton vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Derby has the highest household income ($80k).
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 | Charleston | Brighton | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
1,167 |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
| Charleston and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
36.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,286±$17k 39% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53kHighest 25% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
| Charleston and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444 21% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT |
| Derby and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750Highest 26% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,449 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.3% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston and Brighton 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 | Charleston School District | Brighton School District | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.