What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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	Plainfield
People
Population	4,537Highest	2,522Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S.	38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield 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%	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Derby and Plainfield 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%	46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield 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	$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S.	$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S.
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.	$7,904Highest 153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derby and Plainfield 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%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Derby 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	#19 of 120 in NH
School district	Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District	Plainfield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.