Compare towns
Chester vs Derby vs Weathersfield
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 the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Weathersfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
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 | Weathersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
4,537Highest |
2,856Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
48.3±5.4Lowest 12% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
22%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Weathersfield 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% |
25.4%±5.8Lowest 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% |
37.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Weathersfield 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±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$83,095±$12kHighest about the VT average |
| Weathersfield 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 |
$252,700±$50kHighest 20% below VT |
| Weathersfield 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±$118 11% below VT |
$1,401±$61Highest 14% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,540Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
80.3%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Weathersfield 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.2%±14.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Weathersfield 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 | #21 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Weathersfield 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 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.