Compare towns
Charleston vs Derby vs Mapleton vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
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 | Derby | Mapleton | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 936Lowest |
4,537Highest |
1,884 |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston and Derby 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Brighton 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 U.S. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10k 32% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| 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 31% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118Highest 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
| 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 20% above U.S. |
$3,449 11% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
U.S. 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.