What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Holderness has the most expensive homes ($363k 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	Holderness
People
Population	4,537Highest	1,917Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S.	39.4±7.4Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Derby and Holderness 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%	31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Holderness 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 U.S.: 35.7%	55.7%Highest 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%
	Holderness 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	$107,863±$45kHighest 34% above U.S.
	Holderness 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.	$363,100±$60kHighest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$118Lowest 22% below U.S.	$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S.	$3,923Highest 26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derby and Holderness 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%	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	10.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Derby and Holderness 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	Holderness 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.