Compare towns
Waterville vs Bridgewater vs Derby Line
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Derby Line has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Bridgewater | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
980Highest |
783 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
46.7±13.3Lowest 8% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Derby Line and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.9%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Derby Line 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 VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater 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±$27k 12% below VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$71,518±$25kHighest 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 | $236,300±$15kHighest 25% below VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT |
| Waterville and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
$850±$778 31% below VT |
$835±$334Lowest 32% below VT |
| Waterville and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Highest 21% below VT |
$3,418 32% below VT |
$3,275Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
35.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±9.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Derby Line and Bridgewater 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.