Compare towns
Derby vs Strafford 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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Strafford | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,372 |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest 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%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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±$8k about the VT average |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$238,000±$53k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$979±$444Lowest 21% 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 |
$3,750 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 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 |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston and Strafford 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 | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.