Compare towns
Mitchell vs Derby 168 miles apart. The biggest differences: average commute (10 min in Mitchell) and property tax bill (+33% in Mitchell).
Where each one shines Two towns, two different strengths What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.
Mitchell A small town of 117
Quiet strengths Mitchell doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Mitchell →
Derby A small town of 110
Quiet strengths Derby doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Derby →
The biggest differences Where they differ most The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.
★ What stands out · Monthly cost A typical home costs $150 more a month in Mitchell A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.
Down payment3.5% 10% 20% Rate
Mitchell $730 /mo
Typical home $116K (Census) · tax rate 1.25% · Housing →
Derby $580 /mo
Typical home $93K (Census) · tax rate 1.18% · Housing →
The difference: $150 a month , about $1,800 a year , between Mitchell and Derby.
Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.
Life in each What daily life feels like in each The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.
Outdoors & history
National Register places 1 — Famous people born here — 2
A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.
Where they are 168 miles apart Straight-line miles between town centers.
Mitchell ↔ Derby 168 miles apart
Everything, side by side What matters to you? Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
Raising kids Affordability Owning a home Short commute Working from home Younger crowd Settled, older crowd Growing town Outdoorsy Walkable streets
Population
117 Highest 110 Lowest
Median age
45.3 ±11 Highest 17% above IA 41.8 ±20.3 Lowest 8% above IA
Kids under 18
12.8% ±21.5 Lowest IA: 22.9% 31.8% ±19.3 Highest IA: 22.9%
Age 65+
22.2% ±14 Lowest IA: 18.1% 26.4% ±12.7 Highest IA: 18.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
4.4% Highest IA: 31.4% 1.4% Lowest IA: 31.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9% ±8.9 IA: 6.2% 0.9% ±9.3 IA: 6.2%
Household incomemedian
$72,500 ±$55k Highest 3% below IA $56,250 ±$31k Lowest 25% below IA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$116,100 ±$19k Highest 44% below IA $92,500 ±$25k Lowest 56% below IA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,450 Highest 50% below IA $1,091 Lowest 62% below IA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
— 0% ±100 IA: 43.9%
Below poverty line
7.7% Lowest IA: 11.1% 35.5% Highest IA: 11.1%
Homeownersof occupied homes
100% Highest IA: 71.7% 97.4% Lowest IA: 71.7%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955 Highest 17 yrs older than IA 1953 Lowest 19 yrs older than IA
Average commuteone way
28 min Lowest 39% above IA 37 min Highest 89% above IA
Work from home
0% ±15.9 Lowest IA: 11.3% 9.3% ±12.8 Highest IA: 11.3%
Work in townworking residents
0% 0%
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line
16.3 mi Lowest 46.3 mi Highest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub
0.37 Highest 0.00 Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town
St. Ansgar (22%) Chariton (14%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others
Few work in Derby Few work in Mitchell
Conserved landshare of the town
5.5% Highest 3.2% Lowest
Trailsmapped miles
0.3 mi Highest 0.0 mi Lowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi
0.5 mi Highest 0.0 mi Lowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map
2 Highest 1 Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure
56.7 Lowest 98.7 Highest
“±” Census margin of error ACS 2020–2024
Deciding? Ask the people who live there The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.
Mitchell or Derby: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Mitchell? → Moving to Mitchell: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Mitchell’s Town Square.
Derby or Mitchell: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Derby? → Moving to Derby: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Derby’s Town Square.
Add a town Set another town beside Mitchell and Derby One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.
Towns like Mitchell Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.
Copyright © 2026 TownTapestry · The guide for every city and town in America · In loving memory of John Cullinane whose interest in maps and discovering new places was contagious. Share TownTapestry to support usBrowse by state · Privacy · Terms 
