Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Hardwick vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bakersfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k 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 | Hardwick | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
2,965Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick 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 VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| 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 about the VT average |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Hardwick 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±$19kHighest 14% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
29 minLowest 23% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Hardwick 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.