Compare towns
Derby vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Exeter | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537 |
16,151Highest |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% 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% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
59.2%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% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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±$8k about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
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.