Compare towns
Brandon vs Windsor 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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 | Windsor | Chester | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
3,554 |
2,992Lowest |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
44.8±6.5Lowest 4% above 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% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor 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% |
29.7%±6.9 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Windsor 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% |
39.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest 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 |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 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 |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% 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 |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 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 |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Highest 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 25 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest 3% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 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 | #61 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 | 12 photos → | 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.