Compare towns
Waterville vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Strafford | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT |
| Strafford and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
| Strafford 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 25% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% 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 |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford 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 Our Story | 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.