Compare towns
Chester vs Derby vs Ludlow
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 youngest population (median age 49.7).
Derby has the highest household income ($80k).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
4,537Highest |
1,990Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Derby and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
| Ludlow and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Derby and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| 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 Our Story | 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.