Compare towns
Derby vs Rochester vs Mount Holly
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).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Mount Holly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Rochester | Mount Holly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,389Lowest |
1,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Lowest 20% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
53.5±8.2Highest 24% above VT |
| Mount Holly and Rochester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.2%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Mount Holly and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Mount Holly 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 VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Derby and Mount Holly 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 |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$78,015±$19k 4% below VT |
| Derby and Mount Holly 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 |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$296,900±$40kHighest 6% below VT |
| Mount Holly and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,534±$1kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mount Holly and Derby 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 |
$3,977Highest 21% below VT |
$3,926 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
65.9%±65.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mount Holly and Rochester 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.2%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Mount Holly 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.