Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Sutton 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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Sutton | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
9,452Highest |
1,279 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.4±5.3 17% above U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Waterford 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Waterford 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waterford 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bakersfield and Sutton 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$109,375±$19k 35% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Waterford 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$271,500±$22k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
— |
| Bakersfield and Sutton 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,238 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Sutton 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
99%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.3%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Waterford 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Sutton | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.