Compare towns
Derby vs Mitchell
168 miles apart. The biggest differences: average commute (10 min in Mitchell) and property tax bill (+33% in Mitchell).
Where each one shines Two towns, two different strengths What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.
Derby A small town of 110
Quiet strengths Derby doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Derby →
Mitchell A small town of 117
Quiet strengths Mitchell doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Mitchell →
The biggest differences Where they differ most The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.
★ What stands out · Monthly cost A typical home costs $150 more a month in Mitchell A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.
Down payment3.5% 10% 20% Rate %
Derby $580 /mo
Typical home $93K (Census) · tax rate 1.18% · Housing →
Mitchell $730 /mo
Typical home $116K (Census) · tax rate 1.25% · Housing →
The difference: $150 a month , about $1,800 a year , between Mitchell and Derby.
Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.
Life in each What daily life feels like in each The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.
Outdoors & history
Derby Mitchell
National Register places — 1
Famous people born here 2 —
A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.
Where they are 168 miles apart Straight-line miles between town centers.
Derby ↔ Mitchell 168 miles apart
Everything, side by side What matters to you? Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
Raising kids Affordability Owning a home Short commute Working from home Younger crowd Settled, older crowd Growing town Outdoorsy Walkable streets
Derby Mitchell
People
Population
110 Lowest
117 Highest
Median age
41.8 ±20.3 Lowest
8% above IA
45.3 ±11 Highest
17% above IA
Mitchell and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
31.8% ±19.3 Highest
IA: 22.9%
12.8% ±21.5 Lowest
IA: 22.9%
Derby and Mitchell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.4% ±12.7 Highest
IA: 18.1%
22.2% ±14 Lowest
IA: 18.1%
Derby and Mitchell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
1.4% Lowest
IA: 31.4%
4.4% Highest
IA: 31.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9% ±9.3
IA: 6.2%
0.9% ±8.9
IA: 6.2%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,250 ±$31k Lowest
25% below IA
$72,500 ±$55k Highest
3% below IA
Mitchell and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$92,500 ±$25k Lowest
56% below IA
$116,100 ±$19k Highest
44% below IA
Mitchell and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,091 Lowest
62% below IA
$1,450 Highest
50% below IA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0% ±100
IA: 43.9%
—
Below poverty line
35.5% Highest
IA: 11.1%
7.7% Lowest
IA: 11.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.4% Lowest
IA: 71.7%
100% Highest
IA: 71.7%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953 Lowest
19 yrs older than IA
1955 Highest
17 yrs older than IA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 min Highest
89% above IA
28 min Lowest
39% above IA
Work from home
9.3% ±12.8 Highest
IA: 11.3%
0% ±15.9 Lowest
IA: 11.3%
Derby and Mitchell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents
0%
0%
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line
46.3 mi Highest
16.3 mi Lowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub
0.00 Lowest
0.37 Highest
Top workplaceoutside town
Chariton (14%) St. Ansgar (22%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others
Few work in Mitchell Few work in Derby
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town
3.2% Lowest
5.5% Highest
Trailsmapped miles
0.0 mi Lowest
0.3 mi Highest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi
0.0 mi Lowest
0.5 mi Highest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map
1 Lowest
2 Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure
98.7 Highest
56.7 Lowest
Iowa average“±” Census margin of error ACS 2020–2024
Deciding? Ask the people who live there The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.
Derby or Mitchell: which would you pick? →
What’s it really like to live in Derby? →
Moving to Derby: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Derby’s Town Square.
Mitchell or Derby: which would you pick? →
What’s it really like to live in Mitchell? →
Moving to Mitchell: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Mitchell’s Town Square.
Add a town Set another town beside Derby and Mitchell One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.
Towns like Derby Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.
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