Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Bellows Falls vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Bakersfield | Bellows Falls | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
2,891 |
3,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
| Bakersfield and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
| White River Junction and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327 about the VT average |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
| White River Junction and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bellows Falls and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 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.