Compare towns
Waterville vs Putnam 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%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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.
| Measure | Waterville | Putnam | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680 |
540Lowest |
1,109Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
46.4±8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Putnam 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%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% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$83,462±$18k 3% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$271,300±$19kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,200±$327Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Waterville 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. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,823 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bakersfield and Putnam 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL 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 |
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.