What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hill has the most expensive homes ($312k median).

Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hill	Waterville
People
Population	908Highest	680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.1±6.8 26% above U.S.	49.1±8.2 26% above U.S.
Kids under 18	10.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Waterville and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Waterville and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,125±$21kHighest about the U.S. average	$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S.
	Hill and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,700±$41kHighest 6% below U.S.	$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,110±$93 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,933Highest 58% above U.S.	$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Waterville and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 34% above U.S.	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.
Work from home	9.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hill and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Hill School District	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

U.S. 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.