Compare towns
Derby vs Lee vs Plainfield
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).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Lee | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537 |
4,576Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Lee 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% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| Lee and Plainfield 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. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Lee 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.