Compare towns
Charleston vs Windham vs Derby
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 oldest population (median age 58.4).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Windham | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
19,188Highest |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1 33% 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% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2 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% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Charleston 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. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$3,938Highest 26% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5Highest 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | #95 of 133 in ME | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Charleston School District | RSU 14 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.