Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Ossipee 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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Ossipee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
Waterford has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Ossipee | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
4,521Highest |
1,279 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 19% above U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
45.4±5.3Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Ossipee 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% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee 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% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee 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% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bakersfield and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$109,375±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Waterford and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$271,500±$22k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
— |
| Ossipee and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,401Highest 41% above U.S. |
$4,238 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Ossipee and Bakersfield 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% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
99%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.3%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterford and Bakersfield 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 | — | #100 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.