Compare towns
Waterville vs Wells 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Derby Line has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Wells | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,148Highest |
783 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
46.7±13.3Lowest 8% above VT |
| Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.9%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Line and Wells 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% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest 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±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$71,518±$25k 12% below VT |
| Wells 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 |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT |
| Wells 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 |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$835±$334Lowest 32% below VT |
| Wells 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 |
$3,308 34% below VT |
$3,275Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
35.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 60% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±9.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Derby Line and Wells 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.