Compare towns
Derby vs Swanton 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).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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 | Swanton | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
2,670 |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% 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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest 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% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| 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±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
| Derby and Swanton 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 |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
$238,000±$53kHighest 25% below VT |
| Charleston and Swanton 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 |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
$979±$444Lowest 21% below VT |
| Swanton 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 |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
$3,750 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Derby and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston 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 | — | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.