Compare towns
Waterville vs Epping 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 the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
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 | Epping | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
7,430Highest |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.4±8 19% above U.S. |
| 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%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$83,462±$18k 3% above U.S. |
| Epping 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 29% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$271,300±$19k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,200±$327 15% below U.S. |
| Epping and Bakersfield 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,823Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Bakersfield 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Epping School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.