Compare towns
Waterville vs Lyndeborough vs Sutton 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%).
Lyndeborough has the most expensive homes ($391k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Lyndeborough | Sutton | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,616Highest |
790 |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
46.4±8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Waterville 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% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Sutton 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%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Sutton 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% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$83,462±$18k 3% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$271,300±$19k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
— | $1,200±$327 15% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,975 27% above U.S. |
$3,823Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 42% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Bakersfield 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 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 7 photos → | 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.