Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Calais vs Worcester
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%).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Worcester has the shortest commute (29 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.
| Measure | Bakersfield | Calais | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
1,713Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Bakersfield 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% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Calais 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 |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327 about the VT average |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Worcester 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
29 minLowest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.