Compare towns
Brandon vs Chester vs Exeter 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
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
2,992Lowest |
16,151Highest |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 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+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Chester 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 U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 36% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
8.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 59 photos → | 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.