What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

Waterville has the most affordable 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.

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

Measure	Stoddard	Waterville
People
Population	1,072Highest	680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53±4Highest 36% above U.S.	49.1±8.2Lowest 26% above U.S.
	Stoddard and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Waterville and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Waterville and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,904±$11kHighest 18% above U.S.	$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S.
	Stoddard and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,300±$20kHighest about the U.S. average	$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S.	$1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S.
	Waterville and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,316Highest 38% above U.S.	$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoddard and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%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	34 minLowest 27% above U.S.	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stoddard and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stoddard 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.