Compare towns
Chester vs Derby vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Derby has the most kids (15.7% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
4,537Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Derby and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest 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+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Derby 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 VT |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Derby and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
| Jay and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT |
— |
| Derby and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Highest 15% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Derby and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 18% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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 | None yet | None yet | 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.