Compare towns

Waterville vs Bloomfield vs Bakersfield

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 oldest population (median age 49.1).
Bloomfield has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Bakersfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).

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.

MeasureWatervilleBloomfieldBakersfield
People
Population
680
234Lowest
1,109Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
49.1±8.2Highest
14% above VT
41.9±12Lowest
about the VT average
46.4±8
8% above 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%
27.4%±14.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.6%±3.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Bloomfield 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%
25.2%±8Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
Bloomfield and Bakersfield 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%
32.7%
VT: 43.8%
39.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.3
VT: 7%
0.9%±4.5Lowest
VT: 7%
7.5%±4.7Highest
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±$27k
12% below VT
$54,375±$17kLowest
33% below VT
$83,462±$18kHighest
about the VT average
Bakersfield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$236,300±$15k
25% below VT
$190,600±$63kLowest
40% below VT
$271,300±$19kHighest
14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,110±$93Lowest
10% below VT
—
$1,200±$327Highest
about the VT average
Bakersfield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,957Highest
21% below VT
$2,800Lowest
44% below VT
$3,823
24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±27.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
—
18.8%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Waterville and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.9%
VT: 10.1%
2.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
83.2%
VT: 73.2%
94%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
60% above VT
30 minLowest
28% above VT
33 min
40% above VT
Work from home
8.5%±3
VT: 16.9%
4.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Bakersfield and Waterville 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 — Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school 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.