Compare towns
Waterville vs Wright 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%).
Wright has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Wright | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,739Highest |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.4±8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Wright 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% |
16.7%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Wright 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% |
21.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wright 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4%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% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$86,250±$13kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$83,462±$18k 3% above U.S. |
| Wright 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. |
$242,000±$36k 27% below U.S. |
$271,300±$19kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$953±$79Lowest 33% 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 | $3,957 27% above U.S. |
$5,279Highest 69% above U.S. |
$3,823Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.6%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Wright 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bakersfield and Waterville 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school 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.