Compare towns
Derby Line vs Sheldon 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).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k 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 | Sheldon | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 783 |
2,267Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±13.3 8% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Sheldon and Waterville 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Sheldon and Waterville 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,957Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.4%±24.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±9.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Derby Line and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.