Compare towns
Derby vs Epping vs Charleston 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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Charleston has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Epping | Charleston | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537 |
7,430Highest |
936Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Charleston 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% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston and Chester 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% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$979±$444 31% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,750 20% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Charleston 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Epping School District | Charleston School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.