Compare towns

Waterville vs Hampton 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%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
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.

MeasureWatervilleHamptonBakersfield
People
Population
680Lowest
1,145Highest
1,109
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.1±8.2Highest
26% above U.S.
43.1±14.7Lowest
11% 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%
15.9%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
13.6%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Waterville and Hampton 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%
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
21.2%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bakersfield and Hampton 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%
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±3.1Lowest
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.
$73,796±$8k
9% below U.S.
$83,462±$18kHighest
3% above U.S.
Bakersfield and Hampton 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.
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$271,300±$19kHighest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,110±$93Lowest
21% below U.S.
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$1,200±$327
15% below U.S.
Hampton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,957Highest
27% above U.S.
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$3,823
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±27.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
18.8%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
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
33 min
25% above U.S.
Work from home
8.5%±3
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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

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.