Compare towns
Derby vs Gorham 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 oldest population (median age 51.6).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Gorham | Windham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537 |
18,300 |
19,188Highest |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±1.8 7% 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% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Windham 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% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest 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% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Windham 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. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Windham 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. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Gorham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #52 of 70 in VT | #24 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 14 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Windham High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.1 |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.