Compare towns
Derby vs Salisbury vs Charleston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Charleston has the shortest commute (26 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 | Salisbury | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,609 |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Lowest 32% above U.S. |
58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charleston 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±$8k about the U.S. average |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$979±$444Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
$3,750 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.