Compare towns
Waterville vs Castleton 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 oldest population (median age 49.1).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Castleton | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
4,453Highest |
783 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.7±13.3 8% 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 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.9%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Line and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$71,518±$25k 12% below VT |
| Castleton and Derby Line 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 |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT |
| Waterville and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$835±$334Lowest 32% below VT |
| Castleton and Waterville 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,275 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
35.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±9.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Derby Line and Waterville 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| 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.