Compare towns
Derby vs Barre 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | Barre | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537 |
8,412Highest |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7 15% 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 | 15.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Derby and Chester 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% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
| Chester and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Derby and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Derby and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Derby 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.