Compare towns
Waterville vs Bow vs Derby Line
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Derby Line has the most affordable homes ($201k 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 | Waterville | Bow | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
8,335Highest |
783 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.7±13.3 20% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby Line and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$71,518±$25k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$201,000±$52kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$835±$334Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 27% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$3,275Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.4%±24.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.