Compare towns

Bakersfield vs Hampton vs Ripton 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%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureBakersfieldHamptonRiptonWaterville
People
Population
1,109
1,145Highest
508Lowest
680
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±8
19% above U.S.
43.1±14.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
49.1±8.2Highest
26% above U.S.
Waterville and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.6%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
15.9%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.4%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Waterville and Hampton 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%
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton 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%
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$83,462±$18k
3% above U.S.
$73,796±$8k
9% below U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below U.S.
Ripton 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.
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$236,300±$15k
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,200±$327
15% below U.S.
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
—
$1,110±$93Lowest
21% below U.S.
Hampton and Bakersfield 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.
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
$3,957
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
18.8%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±27.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Waterville 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%
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
25% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
38 minHighest
42% above U.S.
Work from home
14.2%±7
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.5%±3
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton 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 — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 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 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.