Compare towns
Waterville vs North Hampton vs Bangor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Bangor has the shortest commute (17 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 | Waterville | North Hampton | Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,077 |
4,543Lowest |
31,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41±1.3 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,580±$4kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$59,942±$7k 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$219,600±$10k 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $978±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,055±$43 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,755Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$3,076 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.5%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bangor and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 32% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton and Waterville 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 133 in ME | #12 of 120 in NH | #37 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Waterville Public Schools | North Hampton School District | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 |
| High school in town | Waterville Senior High School | None in town | Bangor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 13.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.