Compare towns
Augusta vs Chester vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($233k median).
Derby has the highest household income ($80k).
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 | Augusta | Chester | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
2,992Lowest |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Derby and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10k 32% below U.S. |
| Chester and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Derby and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$3,449 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta and Chester 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 | #119 of 133 in ME | #49 of 70 in VT | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | Cony | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
8.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.