Compare towns
Derby vs Windham vs Middlesex
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).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Windham | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
594Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby and Windham 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Derby and Windham 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.