Compare towns
Brandon vs Chester vs Dummerston vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Brandon | Chester | Dummerston | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
2,992 |
2,090Lowest |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
| Derby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Derby and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT | — | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.