Compare towns
Derby vs Springfield 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).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
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 | Springfield | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,122 |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Lowest 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%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Derby and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Springfield 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 32% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Highest 22% below U.S. |
$979±$444Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,750 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston and Springfield 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 | — | Charleston 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 |
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.