Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Benson vs Fairfield
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%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
784Lowest |
1,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Benson and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Benson 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% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson 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% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Benson 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 |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
| Fairfield 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±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Benson 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 |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Fairfield 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% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None 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.