Compare towns
Derby vs Mapleton vs Charleston vs Brownington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Charleston has the most people working from home (18.7%).
Brownington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Mapleton | Charleston | Brownington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,884 |
936Lowest |
1,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
40.5±4.5Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Charleston and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brownington and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$75,556±$17k 6% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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±$10k 32% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$238,000±$53kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$193,800±$40k 42% below U.S. |
| Charleston and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118Highest 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$979±$444 31% below U.S. |
$745±$504 47% below U.S. |
| Derby and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449 11% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,750 20% above U.S. |
$3,912Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.5%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brownington and Derby 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston and Mapleton 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Charleston School District | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.