Compare towns

Athens vs Bakersfield vs Vershire

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Bakersfield has the highest household income ($83k).
Vershire has the most kids (19.1% under 18).

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.

MeasureAthensBakersfieldVershire
People
Population
431Lowest
1,109Highest
842
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-7.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.3±6.5Highest
10% above VT
46.4±8
8% above VT
45.7±9.3Lowest
6% above VT
Athens and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.9%±6.5
VT: 17.9%
13.6%±3.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.1%±4.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Vershire and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.2%±5Highest
VT: 21.4%
Vershire and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
39.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
31.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3Lowest
VT: 7%
7.5%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6
VT: 7%
Bakersfield and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,438±$30kLowest
16% below VT
$83,462±$18kHighest
about the VT average
$71,618±$12k
12% below VT
Bakersfield and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$240,400±$32k
24% below VT
$271,300±$19kHighest
14% below VT
$209,100±$55kLowest
34% below VT
Bakersfield and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$537
9% below VT
$1,200±$327Highest
about the VT average
$1,117±$80Lowest
9% below VT
Bakersfield and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,438Highest
8% above VT
$3,823Lowest
24% below VT
$4,640
8% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±39
VT: 48.4%
18.8%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
77.8%±24.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
Vershire and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%
VT: 10.1%
7.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
19.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1985Highest
9 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
53% above VT
33 min
40% above VT
32 minLowest
38% above VT
Work from home
19.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±7
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±4.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Athens and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.