Compare towns
Derby vs Hartland vs Plainfield 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 affordable homes ($225k median).
Hartland has the most homeowners (91.8%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Charleston has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Hartland | Plainfield | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
3,460 |
2,522 |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
55.8±5.1 43% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Charleston and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Hartland 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% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston and Hartland 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% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%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% |
2.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Charleston 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 U.S. average |
$86,136±$23k 7% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$348,600±$39k 5% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$979±$444Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$6,437 106% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,750 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.1%±89.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston and Plainfield 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 | #29 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Hartland School District | Plainfield School District | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.