Compare towns
Waterville vs Arkwright vs Benson vs Bakersfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Arkwright has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Bakersfield has the most expensive homes ($271k 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 | Waterville | Arkwright | Benson | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
859 |
784 |
1,109Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
46.4±8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Benson and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bakersfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$93,000±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$83,462±$18k 3% above U.S. |
| Arkwright and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$170,900±$30kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$271,300±$19kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$875±$689Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,200±$327Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 27% above U.S. |
$3,760Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,823 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±65.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 | 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.