Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Castleton vs Reading 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%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Castleton | Reading | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
4,453Highest |
699Lowest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Reading 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
| Fairfield and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Reading and Fairfield 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None 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.