Compare towns
Chester vs Derby vs Sutton
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 the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
4,537Highest |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Lowest 24% 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% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest 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% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Sutton 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 |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% 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% |
27.6%±47.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Sutton 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.