Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Castleton vs Proctor 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 most people working from home (14.2%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
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 | Proctor | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
4,453Highest |
1,586 |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.3±8.9Highest 10% above VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| Proctor 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% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Proctor 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% |
23.5%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
28%Lowest 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% |
3.9%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$75,060±$12k 8% below VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19kHighest 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,059±$200 14% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Castleton 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 |
$3,944Highest 22% 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% |
39.4%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Proctor 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% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% 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 |
1938Lowest 38 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 |
22 min 5% below VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Groton 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.