Compare towns
Derby vs Surry 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 the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Chester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Surry | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
1,052Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1Lowest 15% 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% |
20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Surry 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Chester 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 |
$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Surry 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. |
$331,400±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Surry 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 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school 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 |
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.