Compare towns
Derby Line vs Dracut vs Waterville
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 Line has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Dracut | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 783 |
32,574Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±13.3 20% above U.S. |
41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Derby Line and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby Line and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,518±$25k 11% below U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$52kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $835±$334Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,275Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,375Highest 72% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.4%±24.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby Line and Dracut 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 | — | #201 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dracut | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | Dracut Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.