Compare towns
Waterville vs Walpole 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%).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
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 | Walpole | Sutton | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
3,690Highest |
790 |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
46.4±8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole 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% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 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. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$83,462±$18kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Walpole 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. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$271,300±$19k 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Bakersfield 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. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
— | $1,200±$327Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Walpole 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. |
$6,078Highest 95% 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% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Waterville 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% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bakersfield and Sutton 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 | — | #27 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Fall Mountain Regional 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 | 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.