Compare towns
Derby Center vs Ludlow 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%).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (17.3%).
Chelsea has the most homeowners (81.2%).
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 | Ludlow | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 693Lowest |
808 |
1,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 61.1±7Highest 42% above VT |
48.7±5.6Lowest 13% above VT |
54.1±12.1 26% above VT |
| Derby Center and Chelsea 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% |
13.1%±3.7Lowest 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% |
30.4%±0.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±3.4 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest 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±$10k 28% below VT |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
$65,913±$13kHighest 19% below VT |
| Chelsea and Derby Center 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 |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
| Ludlow and Chelsea 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 |
$1,018±$91Lowest 18% 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 |
$4,237Highest 16% below VT |
$3,762 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest 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% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.5% VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 31% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.2%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school 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.