Compare towns

Bakersfield vs Cornish 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 people working from home (14.2%).
Cornish has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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.

MeasureBakersfieldCornishWaterville
People
Population
1,109
1,816Highest
680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±8Lowest
19% above U.S.
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
49.1±8.2
26% above U.S.
Cornish and Waterville 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%
14.4%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
20.4%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Waterville and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.2%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish and Bakersfield 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%
40.6%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%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Bakersfield and Waterville 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.
$91,821±$2kHighest
14% above U.S.
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below U.S.
Cornish and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,300±$19k
18% below U.S.
$296,000±$69kHighest
11% below U.S.
$236,300±$15kLowest
29% below U.S.
Cornish and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,200±$327
15% below U.S.
$1,221±$227Highest
14% below U.S.
$1,110±$93Lowest
21% below U.S.
Cornish 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.
$5,796Highest
86% above U.S.
$3,957
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
18.8%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±27.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Waterville and Cornish 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%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
25% above U.S.
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
38 minHighest
42% above U.S.
Work from home
14.2%±7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
8.5%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bakersfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Cornish School District Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
High school in town None in town None 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.