Compare towns
Waterville vs Hampton vs Benson 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
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Derby Line has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Benson | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,145Highest |
784 |
783 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
46.7±13.3 20% above U.S. |
| Benson 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson 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. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$71,518±$25k 11% below U.S. |
| Benson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$201,000±$52k 40% below U.S. |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$835±$334Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 27% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,275 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.4%±24.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older 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 |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Derby Line 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 | — | 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 | 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.