Compare towns
Derby Line vs Orwell 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).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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 | Orwell | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 783 |
1,294Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±13.3Lowest 8% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Orwell 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% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Derby Line and Orwell 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% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Line and Orwell 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Orwell 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 |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% 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 |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $835±$334Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Waterville and Orwell 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 |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$3,957Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Waterville 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% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±9.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Derby Line and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.