What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

Hill has the most expensive homes ($312k median).

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	Hill
People
Population	4,537Highest	908Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S.	49.1±6.8Lowest 26% above U.S.
	Derby and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	10.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Derby and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hill 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.6%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hill 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±$8kLowest about the U.S. average	$82,125±$21kHighest about the U.S. average
	Hill 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±$10kLowest 32% below U.S.	$311,700±$41kHighest 6% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$118 22% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S.	$4,933Highest 58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derby and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978 2 yrs older than U.S.	1978 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 23% above U.S.	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Derby and Hill 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	Hill School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.