What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the most kids (15.7% under 18).

Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

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	Fairlee
People
Population	4,537Highest	1,066Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.6±2.1Lowest 20% above VT	56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT
	Fairlee 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 VT: 17.9%	12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Derby and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Fairlee 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 VT: 43.8%	46.5%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7%	5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7%
	Fairlee 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±$8kHighest about the VT average	$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT
	Derby and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT	$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT
	Fairlee and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT	$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT
	Derby and Fairlee 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	$5,617Highest 11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4%	89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee 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 VT: 10.1%	14.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 38% above VT	24 minLowest 3% above VT
Work from home	10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Fairlee and Derby 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	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.