Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Exeter vs Waterford
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 renters (6% rent).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Waterford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
913Lowest |
1,279Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 19% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
45.4±5.3Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Waterford 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% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bakersfield and Waterford 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. |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$109,375±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Waterford 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. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$271,500±$22kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Waterford and Bakersfield 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±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
— |
| Bakersfield and Exeter 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. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,238Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Bakersfield and Exeter 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
99%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.3%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterford and Exeter 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 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school 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.