Compare towns
Derby vs Fairfield vs Proctor
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 oldest population (median age 51.6).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 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 | Fairfield | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,938 |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Derby and Proctor 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% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Fairfield 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 VT average |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
| Fairfield 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±$10k 29% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
| Derby and Fairfield 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 |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Derby and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Derby and Proctor 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.