Compare towns
Chester vs Derby vs Hampton Falls vs Windham
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).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Hampton Falls | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
4,537Highest |
2,328 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above 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% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Windham 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% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest 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% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Hampton Falls 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 |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Windham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest 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% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 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. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Windham 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 | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Hampton Falls School District | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.