Compare towns
Waterville vs Newark 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Newark has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Bakersfield has the most expensive homes ($271k median).
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 | Newark | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
727 |
1,109Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
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% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Newark 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% |
19.9%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Newark 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% |
41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest 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±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Newark 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 |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$271,300±$19kHighest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Highest 21% below VT |
$3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
34 min 44% above VT |
33 minLowest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Newark 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 | 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 |
| 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.