Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Benson vs Castleton vs Fletcher
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Benson | Castleton | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
784Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
| Benson and Fletcher 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% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fletcher and Castleton 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% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Fletcher 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% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
| Fletcher 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 |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$302,100±$37kHighest 5% below VT |
| Fletcher 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 |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Fletcher 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 |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,965Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Benson 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% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Fletcher School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.