Compare towns
Charleston vs Cornwall vs Mendon 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 the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Charleston | Cornwall | Mendon | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 936Lowest |
1,208 |
1,113 |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
50.4±4.6Lowest 17% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
| Charleston and Mendon 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% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall 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% |
25.7%±6.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston and Mendon 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Cornwall and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53k 25% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750 26% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Mendon 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | 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 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.