Compare towns

Bakersfield vs Belvidere vs Northfield

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 people working from home (14.2%).
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).
Northfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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.

MeasureBakersfieldBelvidereNorthfield
People
Population
1,109
422Lowest
5,920Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.4±8Highest
8% above VT
40.7±6.5
6% below VT
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
Bakersfield and Belvidere 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%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
Belvidere and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.2%±3.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
8.8%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
Bakersfield and Northfield 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%
35.9%
VT: 43.8%
34.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±4.7
VT: 7%
1.4%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
15.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$83,462±$18kHighest
about the VT average
$81,563±$18k
about the VT average
$71,768±$13kLowest
12% below VT
Bakersfield and Belvidere 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
$239,200±$51kLowest
24% below VT
$274,400±$21kHighest
13% below VT
Northfield 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
$1,542±$1kHighest
25% above VT
$1,018±$207Lowest
18% below VT
Belvidere 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
$3,908
22% below VT
$4,878Highest
3% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
18.8%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
66.7%±53.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±17.7
VT: 48.4%
Belvidere and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
5.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94%Highest
VT: 73.2%
86.1%
VT: 73.2%
73.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
1956Lowest
20 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
40% above VT
38 minHighest
60% above VT
27 minLowest
16% above VT
Work from home
14.2%±7Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±7.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
Bakersfield and Northfield 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 — — #42 of 70 in VT
School district Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 — Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town None in town — Northfield Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.0
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.