Compare towns
Derby vs Charleston vs Newport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the highest household income ($80k).
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Newport has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | Derby | Charleston | Newport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
936Lowest |
4,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
46.4±4.3Lowest 8% 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 | 15.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Derby and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 36.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Charleston and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
$54,646±$12k 33% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
$238,000±$53kHighest 25% below VT |
$179,400±$11kLowest 43% 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 | $1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT |
$979±$444 21% below VT |
$850±$49Lowest 31% below VT |
| Derby and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,750 26% below VT |
$4,036Highest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Newport and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.3% VT: 10.1% |
23%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston and Newport 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 | — | #63 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Charleston School District | Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Country Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.