Compare towns
Derby vs Addison vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Addison has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Addison | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,175Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
53.1±7.6Highest 23% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
| Addison and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Addison and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±1.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest 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+ | 36.8% VT: 43.8% |
40.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Addison and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$106,667±$7kHighest 31% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$362,200±$23kHighest 14% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,831Highest 16% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.9%±62.8 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Derby and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Addison 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.