Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Exeter vs Plainfield 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 expensive homes ($271k median).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
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.
| Measure | Bakersfield | Exeter | Plainfield | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109Highest |
913 |
1,016 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 19% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Waterville 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% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Highest 15% below U.S. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823 23% above U.S. |
$2,926 6% below U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,957Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Bakersfield 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 | — | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.