What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Derby	Nelson
People
Population	4,537Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S.	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Derby and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Derby and Nelson 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%	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derby and Nelson 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	$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S.
	Nelson 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.	$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$118Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S.
	Nelson 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.	$5,575Highest 79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derby and Nelson 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%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	31.5%±8Highest 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	Nelson 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.