Compare towns
Derby vs Rockingham vs Athens
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 homeowners (84.7%).
Rockingham has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Rockingham | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537 |
4,807Highest |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
46.4±2.6Lowest 8% above VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
| Derby and Athens 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% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Rockingham 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% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rockingham 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
| Rockingham and Athens 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 |
$70,857±$16k 13% below VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
| Derby and Rockingham 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 |
$210,900±$14kLowest 33% below VT |
$240,400±$32kHighest 24% below VT |
| Athens and Derby 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 |
$1,062±$101Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
| Athens 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 |
$4,887 3% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rockingham 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% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 38% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Rockingham 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 | #65 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Rockingham School District | — |
| High school 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.