What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

Rutland has the shortest commute (20 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Derby	Rutland
People
Population	4,537Highest	3,927Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT	50.8±4.5Lowest 18% above VT
	Derby and Rutland 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%	14.6%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Derby and Rutland 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%	28.9%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Rutland 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%	38%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7%	2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7%
	Rutland and Derby 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	$72,099±$17kLowest 11% below VT
	Derby and Rutland 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	$301,500±$40kHighest 5% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$118Lowest 11% below VT	$1,221±$324Highest about the VT average
	Rutland 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	$3,984Highest 21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4%	68.5%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Rutland 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%	10.4%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT	1976Lowest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 38% above VT	20 minLowest 17% below VT
Work from home	10.6%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9%	8.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Derby and Rutland 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	#24 of 70 in VT
School district	Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District	Rutland Town School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.