Compare towns
Derby vs Rochester vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,389Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Rochester and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Derby and Putney 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% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Derby and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Putney and Rochester 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 |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Derby and Rochester 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 |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Putney 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% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.