Compare towns
Waterville vs Sheldon vs Wheelock 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 most renters (20.1% rent).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Sheldon | Wheelock | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
2,267Highest |
717 |
783 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
46.7±13.3 8% above VT |
| Wheelock 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 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.9%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
35.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$71,518±$25k 12% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$201,000±$52k 37% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 10% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— | $835±$334Lowest 32% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,275 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
35.4%±24.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Derby Line 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±9.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.