Compare towns
Brandon vs Stratton vs Derby vs Chester
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).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Stratton | Derby | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
532Lowest |
4,537Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
36.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Stratton and Derby 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 |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest 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 | — | #52 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | — | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | — | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.