The Town FilesDerby, Vermont
Town in Orleans County · population 4,579 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $225,000
- Household income
- $80,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 99 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 51.6
Derby is a town of 4,579 people in Orleans County, Vermont. The median home is worth $225,000, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks better for cycling than 81% of Vermont towns, more of a college town than 74% of Vermont towns, more vibrant than 73% of Vermont towns.
How Derby ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Derby is worth $225,000, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $80,250, which is more affordable than 92% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $1,096 a month. 84.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Derby | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $225,000 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $1,096 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $80,250 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 84.7% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.9% | — |
Who lives in Derby
| People | Derby | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.6 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.2% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.8% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.3% | — |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 32.4 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 89.3% |
Weather in Derby
July highs average 77.7°F and January lows 3.9°F. About 43.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 98.6 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 171 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Derby since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 20, 1962 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 20, 1962.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 10, 2007.
Severe weather in Orleans County since 1996
Orleans County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Flood | DR-4826: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4810: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| April 19, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4770: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 2, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4762: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Orleans County
Orleans County had 10,532 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,363 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Derby itself the ACS puts it at 8.5%.
Public schools in Derby
1 public school with 240 students, about 8.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Country Union Junior High School | 7-8 | 240 | 8.3 |
Towns near Derby
- Newport, VT3.8 mi · 4,455 people · home $179,400
- Barton, VT12.6 mi · 2,872 people · home $201,200
- Lyndon, VT28.3 mi · 5,491 people · home $227,000
Derby questions
Is Derby, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Derby scores better for retirees than 37% of Vermont towns and quieter than 27%. 27.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.6).
How much does a house cost in Derby?
The median owner-occupied home in Derby is valued at $225,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,250, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,096 a month.
What is the weather like in Derby?
July highs average 77.7°F and January lows 3.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.8 inches of precipitation a year and 98.6 inches of snow.
Does Derby get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Derby since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 20, 1962. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)