Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Worcester vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bakersfield has the highest household income ($83k).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Worcester | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Highest |
831 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19kHighest 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| 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 24% below VT |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
29 minLowest 22% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Bakersfield 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
VT 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.