Compare towns
Waterville vs Proctor vs Highgate 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).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Derby Line has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
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 | Proctor | Highgate | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,794 |
3,528Highest |
783 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
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% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Derby Line and Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.9%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Line and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Proctor 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 VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$71,518±$25k 12% below VT |
| Highgate and Proctor 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 |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$835±$334Lowest 32% below VT |
| Waterville and Proctor 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 |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,275Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
35.4%±24.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Proctor 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
83% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±9.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.