Compare towns
Derby vs Ogunquit vs Chester vs Charleston
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 most kids (15.7% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Chester has the youngest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Ogunquit | Chester | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,379 |
2,992 |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
58.4±9.3 50% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Charleston 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Charleston 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Ogunquit 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 U.S. average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118Highest 22% below U.S. |
— | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$979±$444 31% below U.S. |
| Derby and Charleston 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. |
$4,473Highest 43% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,750 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Charleston 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #52 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.