Compare towns
Waterville vs Wright 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 most renters (20.1% rent).
Wright has the highest household income ($86k).
Derby Line has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Wright | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,739Highest |
783 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.7±13.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Wright 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby Line and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$86,250±$13kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$71,518±$25k 11% below U.S. |
| Wright 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 29% below U.S. |
$242,000±$36kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$201,000±$52kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Wright and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S. |
$953±$79 33% below U.S. |
$835±$334Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 27% above U.S. |
$5,279Highest 69% above U.S. |
$3,275Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.6%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.4%±24.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby Line and Waterville 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.

