Compare towns
Derby vs Castleton vs Brandon 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 highest household income ($80k).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Castleton | Brandon | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
4,453 |
4,120 |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Derby and Brandon 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 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% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Derby and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
| Chester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Castleton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449 32% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Derby 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.