Compare towns
Derby vs Union 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).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Union | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
2,663 |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charleston and Union 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 |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Union 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. |
$267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
| Union 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 22% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$979±$444Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Union and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449 11% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,750Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston and Union 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.