Compare towns
Derby Center vs Braintree vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby Center has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.4%).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Derby Center | Braintree | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 693Lowest |
1,026 |
1,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 61.1±7Highest 42% above VT |
58.4±2.4 35% above VT |
54.1±12.1Lowest 26% above VT |
| Derby Center and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.2%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Center and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±3.4 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chelsea and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,250±$10kLowest 28% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$65,913±$13k 19% below VT |
| Braintree and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,600±$24kLowest 38% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$260,900±$39kHighest 18% below VT |
| Chelsea and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$257 13% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,505Lowest 50% below VT |
$3,908Highest 22% below VT |
$3,762 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 31% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.2%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.