Compare towns
Derby vs Sutton vs Chester vs Brandon
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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Brandon has the shortest commute (24 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 | Sutton | Chester | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
2,239Lowest |
2,992 |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Lowest 24% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Derby and Brandon 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% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Brandon 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% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Sutton 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 |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Derby 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. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Brandon 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Green Mountain Union High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
8.7Lowest |
9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.