Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Putnam 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 people working from home (14.2%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Putnam | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Highest |
540Lowest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Waterville 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% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Putnam 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Putnam 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 18% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Putnam 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. |
— | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Waterville 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. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,957Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Bakersfield 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest 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. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bakersfield and Putnam 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | 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.