Compare towns
Derby vs Ellsworth 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 oldest population (median age 51.6).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Ellsworth | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537 |
8,657Highest |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth 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% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth 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±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Derby and Ellsworth 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. |
$242,300±$22kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Ellsworth and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,017±$195 28% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Derby and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449 11% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Derby 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #63 of 133 in ME | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Ellsworth Public Schools | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.