Compare towns
Lyndon vs Windham vs Chester vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyndon has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Lyndon | Windham | Chester | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,590Highest |
594Lowest |
2,992 |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±6.7 12% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
| Derby and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±2Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Lyndon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,786±$6k 15% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Windham and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$21k 28% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$123Highest 11% below VT |
— | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,846 24% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±15.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Lyndon and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | #44 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High 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 | 6 photos → | 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.