Compare towns
Brandon vs Exeter 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
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Chester has the youngest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Exeter | Chester | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
913Lowest |
2,992 |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 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+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Derby and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118Highest 22% below U.S. |
| 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 36% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$3,449 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Brandon 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 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 | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 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 | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | 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 | — | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 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.