Compare towns
Chester vs Derby vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Chester | Derby | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Lowest |
4,537 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Derby and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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+ | 33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #52 of 70 in VT | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.