Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Belvidere vs Ripton vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Belvidere | Ripton | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109Highest |
422Lowest |
508 |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$77,250±$14kLowest 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Bakersfield 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327 about the VT average |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
— | $288±$151Lowest 77% 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 | $3,823 24% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.