What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).

Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

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	Halifax
People
Population	4,537Highest	847Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT	40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT
	Derby and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9%	25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4%	22.6%±7.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Derby and Halifax 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%	44.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.1Highest VT: 7%	1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%
	Derby and Halifax 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	$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT	$267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT	$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT
	Derby and Halifax 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	$4,991Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4%	57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Halifax and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest VT: 10.1%	6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	86.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT	1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 38% above VT	33 minHighest 38% above VT
Work from home	10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9%
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	Halifax School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.