Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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 | Lancaster | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
8,606Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Waterville 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bakersfield and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%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% |
3%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19k 18% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327 15% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Waterville 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Nashoba | 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.