What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k 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	Walpole
People
Population	4,537Highest	3,690Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S.	46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S.
	Derby and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Walpole 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 U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Derby and Walpole 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%	32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Walpole 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 U.S. average	$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average
	Walpole 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.	$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$118Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S.
	Walpole and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S.	$6,078Highest 95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±18.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Walpole and Derby 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%	11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Derby and Walpole 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	#27 of 120 in NH
School district	Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.