Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Belvidere vs Williston
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%).
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
422Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Bakersfield and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$81,563±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Lowest about the VT average |
$1,542±$1k 25% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston and Belvidere 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 |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Bakersfield 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None 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.