Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Bow vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Bakersfield | Bow | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
8,335Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 19% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bakersfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bakersfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k 3% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19k 18% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327 15% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Bow and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Bakersfield 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Bow School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| 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.