Compare towns
Derby Line vs Dover vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby Line has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 Line | Dover | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 783 |
1,466Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±13.3Lowest 8% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Dover and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Derby Line and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,518±$25kHighest 12% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Derby Line and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $835±$334 32% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Waterville and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,275Lowest 35% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±9.8 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.