Compare towns
Waterville vs Northfield 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).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Northfield | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
5,920Highest |
783 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% 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% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest 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%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
24.9%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Line and Northfield 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% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
35.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
$71,518±$25k 12% below VT |
| Northfield 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±$15k 25% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$835±$334Lowest 32% below VT |
| Waterville and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,275Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
35.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±9.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Derby Line and Northfield 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.