What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).

Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

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	Sharon
People
Population	4,537Highest	1,577Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT	45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT
	Derby and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9%	21%±5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Sharon and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4%	25.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Derby and Sharon 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%	37.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.1Highest VT: 7%	1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%
	Derby and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,250±$8kLowest about the VT average	$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT
	Sharon and Derby 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	$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$118Lowest 11% below VT	$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,449Lowest 32% below VT	$5,903Highest 17% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4%	19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Derby and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest VT: 10.1%	3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 38% above VT	26 minLowest 12% above VT
Work from home	10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	12.7%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Sharon and Derby 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	Sharon School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.