Compare towns
Brandon vs Enosburgh vs Chester 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 the shortest commute (24 min average).
Enosburgh has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Brandon | Enosburgh | Chester | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
2,804Lowest |
2,992 |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
49.7±4.7 15% 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% |
21%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Enosburgh and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest 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% VT: 43.8% |
20.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Enosburgh 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 VT |
$63,828±$17k 21% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
| Derby and Brandon 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 |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
$225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
| Chester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT |
| Derby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Enosburgh 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 VT: 10.1% |
13.9% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%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 |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 min 36% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Chester 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | #26 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
10.4Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.