Compare towns
Derby vs Rochester 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%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Rochester | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,389Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
| Rochester and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Chester 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% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Derby 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 |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Derby and Rochester 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 |
$253,600±$81kHighest 20% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rochester 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 |
$929±$158Lowest 25% 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 |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | 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 |
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.