Compare towns

Whitingham vs Derby vs Pawlet

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whitingham has the youngest population (median age 46.4).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).

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.

MeasureWhitinghamDerbyPawlet
People
Population
1,368Lowest
4,537Highest
1,480
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1%
VT: +2.8%
-0.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.4±7.1Lowest
8% above VT
51.6±2.1Highest
20% above VT
47.9±7.5
11% above VT
Derby and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
15.7%±3.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.3%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Pawlet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.1%±2.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
27.2%±4.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.3%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
Whitingham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
36.8%
VT: 43.8%
37.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.1
VT: 7%
4.4%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
Pawlet and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,625±$11k
13% below VT
$80,250±$8kHighest
about the VT average
$62,273±$14kLowest
23% below VT
Derby and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$262,300±$30k
17% below VT
$225,000±$10kLowest
29% below VT
$266,200±$44kHighest
16% below VT
Pawlet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$673±$150Lowest
45% below VT
$1,096±$118
11% below VT
$1,153±$215Highest
7% below VT
Pawlet and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,055Highest
about the VT average
$3,449Lowest
32% below VT
$3,924
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.7%±47.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
45.8%±18.5
VT: 48.4%
42.6%±21.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Whitingham 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%
10%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%
VT: 73.2%
84.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
1964Lowest
12 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
62% above VT
32 minLowest
38% above VT
33 min
40% above VT
Work from home
9.7%±5.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
10.6%±3.5
VT: 16.9%
20.4%±8.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
Pawlet 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 Twin Valley Unified School District #75 Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District Mettawee School District #84
High school in town Twin Valley Middle High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.8
— —
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.