Compare towns
Derby vs Cornish vs Windham vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Cornish has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Chester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Cornish | Windham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,816 |
594Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Cornish 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Derby 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 U.S. average |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Windham and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Windham and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
— | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Chester 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 | Cornish School District | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.