Compare towns
Waterville vs Windham 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
16,038Highest |
783 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% 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%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Windham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$71,518±$25k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$201,000±$52kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$835±$334Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,275Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.4%±24.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.