What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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	Lowell
People
Population	4,537Highest	1,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT	32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9%	30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4%	12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.8%Highest VT: 43.8%	19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7%	2.8%±1.9Highest VT: 7%
	Lowell 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±$8kHighest about the VT average	$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$225,000±$10kHighest 29% below VT	$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT
	Derby and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT	$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT
	Derby and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,449Highest 32% below VT	$2,810Lowest 44% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4%	26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Derby and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%	9.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	94.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 38% above VT	55 minHighest 135% above VT
Work from home	10.6%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9%	7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Derby and Lowell 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	Lowell School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT 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.