Compare towns
Derby Line vs Highgate vs Sutton 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
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 | Highgate | Sutton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 783 |
3,528Highest |
790 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±13.3 8% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 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%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Line and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest 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±$25k 12% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Highgate and Derby Line 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $835±$334Lowest 32% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
— | $1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Waterville and Highgate 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 |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,975Highest 21% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.4%±24.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±9.8 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Derby Line 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.