Compare towns
Derby vs Proctor vs Charleston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the highest household income ($80k).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Charleston has the most people working from home (18.7%).
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 | Proctor | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,794 |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Charleston and Proctor 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 |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
| Derby and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$238,000±$53kHighest 25% below VT |
| 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 11% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$979±$444Lowest 21% below VT |
| Derby and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$3,750 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Derby and Proctor 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston 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 | — | — |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.