Compare towns
Derby vs Groton vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Groton has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
Orange has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Groton | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
967 |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
| Derby and Orange 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% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Derby and Orange 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% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Groton and Orange 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 |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Derby and Groton 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 |
$243,000±$70kHighest 23% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
| Groton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Orange and Derby 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 |
$3,659Highest 27% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Derby and Groton 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% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
28 minLowest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Orange and Groton 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 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.