Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Upton 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%).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Upton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
8,189Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Waterville 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bakersfield and Upton 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% |
53.5%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% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19k 18% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Highest 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 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 | $3,823Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.