Compare towns
Derby Line vs Putney 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).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
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 | Putney | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 783 |
2,622Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±13.3 8% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Line and Putney 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,518±$25k 12% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $835±$334 32% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±9.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.