Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Castleton vs Hampton vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bakersfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Hampton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
4,453Highest |
1,145 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 19% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Waterville 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bakersfield and Castleton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327 15% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823 23% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,957Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bakersfield and Waterville 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 | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.