Compare towns
Chester vs Derby vs Springfield
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Derby has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
4,537Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
| Derby and Springfield 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%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Derby and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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 30% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 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% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Springfield 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield 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 | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.