Compare towns
Waterville vs Bakersfield vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Bakersfield | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,109 |
2,598Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
46.4±8 8% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
| Waterville and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
| Arlington 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±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
| Arlington and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,549Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.