What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

Derby has the shortest commute (32 min average).

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	Wells	Derby
People
Population	1,148Lowest	4,537Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.7±5.2Lowest 18% above VT	51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT
	Derby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	15.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Derby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±2.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Derby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%	36.8%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Wells and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT	$80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average
	Derby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT	$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT
	Wells and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT	$1,096±$118Lowest 11% below VT
	Wells and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,308Lowest 34% below VT	$3,449Highest 32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4%	45.8%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Wells and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.5%Highest VT: 10.1%	7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT	1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	48 minHighest 102% above VT	32 minLowest 38% above VT
Work from home	11.3%±6.2Highest VT: 16.9%	10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Wells 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	Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69	Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.