Compare towns
Derby vs Ripton vs Windham 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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Charleston has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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.
| Measure | Derby | Ripton | Windham | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
508Lowest |
594 |
936 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$238,000±$53k 25% below VT |
| Ripton and Windham 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 |
— | — | $979±$444Lowest 21% below VT |
| Derby and Charleston 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,750 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Charleston 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Charleston School District |
| High school 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 |
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.