Compare towns
Derby vs Cornish vs Charleston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most kids (15.7% under 18).
Cornish has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
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 | Cornish | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,816 |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Lowest 33% above U.S. |
54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Charleston and Cornish 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% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Derby and Cornish 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% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charleston 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±$8k about the U.S. average |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$979±$444Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Cornish 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. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,750 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston and Cornish 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 | Cornish School District | Charleston 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 |
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.