Compare towns
Derby vs Hardwick vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k 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 | Hardwick | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
2,965Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Hardwick 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 VT average |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Hardwick and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
| 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 11% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| 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 32% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Hardwick 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
8.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.