Compare towns
Derby vs Reading 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 the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Chester has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Reading | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
699Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
| Derby and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Reading 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 29% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Reading and Derby 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 38% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 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.