Compare towns
Derby vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Lancaster | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
3,216 |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% 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%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Derby 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% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Lancaster 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% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Lancaster 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 |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Derby and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10k 32% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% 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. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Derby and Lancaster 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. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 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 13% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.