Compare towns
Derby vs Gorham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
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 | Gorham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
2,682Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Derby and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham 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 |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10k 32% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
| Chester and Derby 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. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Derby and Chester 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. |
$4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.