What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Derby	Colrain
People
Population	4,537Highest	1,627Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S.	49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S.
	Derby and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Derby and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Colrain 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Colrain and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,250±$8kLowest about the U.S. average	$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average
	Colrain and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S.	$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$118Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S.
	Colrain and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S.	$4,317Highest 38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±18.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Colrain and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 23% above U.S.	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Derby and Colrain 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	Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District	Mohawk Trail
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.