Compare towns
Chester vs Derby vs Epping vs Ludlow
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Epping has the highest household income ($104k).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Epping | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
4,537 |
7,430Highest |
1,990Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Derby 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% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and Chester 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%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% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow 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±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46k 11% above U.S. |
| Epping and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,112±$151 21% below U.S. |
| Epping and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,890 57% 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% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Ludlow 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Epping School District | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 9.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.