Compare towns
Waterville vs Hooksett vs Vershire 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 kids (20.4% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
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 | Hooksett | Vershire | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
15,057Highest |
842 |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.7±9.3 17% 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% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Vershire 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% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Vershire 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Bakersfield 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. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$71,618±$12k 11% below U.S. |
$83,462±$18k 3% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$209,100±$55kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$271,300±$19k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,117±$80 21% below U.S. |
$1,200±$327 15% below U.S. |
| Hooksett 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. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,640 49% above U.S. |
$3,823Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Vershire 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 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 |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bakersfield and Hooksett 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Hooksett School District | — | 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.