What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).

Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k 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	Kensington
People
Population	4,537Highest	2,009Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S.	43.3±5.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Kensington and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Kensington 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	$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S.	$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$118Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S.
	Kensington and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S.	$9,637Highest 209% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derby and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
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	Kensington School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.