Compare towns
Charleston vs Orange 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%).
Orange has the youngest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Orange | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
957 |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
50.3±5.3Lowest 17% 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% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Derby and Orange 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% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Charleston and Orange 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 |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
| Derby and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53kHighest 25% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% 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±$444Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
| Orange and Derby 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 |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston and Orange 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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.