Compare towns
Charleston vs Derby vs Reading
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936 |
4,537Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% 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% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston and Reading 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% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Charleston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
| Reading 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±$53k 25% below VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
| Reading and Derby 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 |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Derby 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% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Charleston 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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 |
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.