Compare towns
Waterville vs Plainfield vs Sutton 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).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Plainfield | Sutton | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
2,522Highest |
790 |
783 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.6±5.7 20% 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%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby Line and Sutton 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% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$71,518±$25k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$231,100±$41k 31% below U.S. |
$201,000±$52kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
— | $835±$334Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 27% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,975 27% above U.S. |
$3,275Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.4%±24.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Sutton 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
83% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Plainfield School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.