Compare towns
Waterville vs Sheldon vs Whitingham 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).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Sheldon | Whitingham | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,368 |
783 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.9%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
32.8% 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% |
2.2%±1.9 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 |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% 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 |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT |
| Sheldon and Whitingham 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 |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$835±$334 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 | $3,957 21% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,275Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
35.4%±24.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
83% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 60% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±9.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Derby Line and Sheldon 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.