Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Castleton vs Dummerston vs Groton
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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Castleton | Dummerston | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
4,453Highest |
2,090 |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| Bakersfield and Groton 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327 about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$3,659 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Dummerston 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| 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 | 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.