Compare towns
Derby vs Sheldon vs Enosburgh vs Charleston
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 highest household income ($80k).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Enosburgh has the most renters (24.3% rent).
Charleston has the most people working from home (18.7%).
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 | Sheldon | Enosburgh | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
2,267 |
2,804 |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7% VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Enosburgh and Charleston 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$63,828±$17k 21% below VT |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
| Derby and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$238,000±$53k 25% below VT |
| Sheldon and Charleston 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$979±$444 21% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$3,750Highest 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Enosburgh and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
32 min 36% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston and Sheldon 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 | — | #26 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.