Compare towns
Derby vs Jay vs Chester vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the highest household income ($80k).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Chester has the youngest population (median age 49.7).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Jay | Chester | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
471Lowest |
2,992 |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
| Jay 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Brandon 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 VT average |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Derby and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
| Jay and Chester 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 |
— | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
| Derby and Brandon 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Derby and Brandon 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 38% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.