What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).

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	Strafford
People
Population	4,537Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT	51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT
	Derby and Strafford 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%	23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Strafford 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%	22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Derby and Strafford 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%	53.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7%	5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7%
	Strafford 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±$8kLowest about the VT average	$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT	$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$118Lowest 11% below VT	$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT
	Strafford 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	$7,149Highest 42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4%	44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Derby and Strafford 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%	5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	88.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 38% above VT	23 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9%
	Strafford 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	Strafford 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.