Compare towns
Charleston vs Derby vs Sanbornton
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 the most people working from home (18.7%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Sanbornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
4,537Highest |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
41.9±5.4Lowest 8% 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% |
18.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sanbornton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charleston and Derby 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 U.S. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
$113,750±$41kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton 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 28% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$452,300±$30kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,289±$198Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sanbornton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750 20% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$5,731Highest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston and Sanbornton 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 | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Charleston School District | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Winnisquam Regional 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 |
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.