Compare towns
Chester vs Derby vs Putney vs Berlin
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Derby has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Berlin has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Putney | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
4,537Highest |
2,622Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| Derby and Berlin 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%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin 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 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 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% VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and Derby 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Putney and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Derby 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.