Compare towns
Derby vs Dover 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 affordable homes ($225k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Charleston has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Dover | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537 |
33,364Highest |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
58.4±9.3Highest 50% 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 | 15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.6Highest 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+ | 36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Charleston 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 |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$979±$444Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,750 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Dover School District | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.