Compare towns
Waterville vs Wright vs Bakersfield vs Benson
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 highest household income ($86k).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,739Highest |
1,109 |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
46.4±8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Benson and Wright 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% |
16.5%±5.2 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%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Wright 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% |
32.6% 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% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bakersfield and Benson 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. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$242,000±$26k 27% 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. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Benson 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. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.6%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% 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% |
80.9% 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. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 | 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.