Compare towns
Derby Line vs Ryegate 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 people working from home (13.5%).
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Waterville has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
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 | Ryegate | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 783 |
1,059Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±13.3 8% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% 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%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Derby Line 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% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Line and Ryegate 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% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% 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 |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
$236,300±$15kHighest 25% below VT |
| Waterville and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $835±$334Lowest 32% below VT |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Waterville and Ryegate 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 |
$3,472 31% below VT |
$3,957Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Ryegate 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% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±9.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Derby Line and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school 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.