Compare towns
Derby vs Durham 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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Charleston has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537 |
15,080Highest |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% 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%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Derby and Charleston 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% |
75.4%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% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$979±$444Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,750 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Charleston 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.