Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Castleton vs Ripton vs St. George
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
St. George has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Ripton | St. George |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
4,453Highest |
508Lowest |
812 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+17.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
44.7±13.4 4% above VT |
| Ripton 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%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.6%±7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| St. George 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton 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 |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,464±$34k 35% above VT |
| Ripton and St. George 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$376,800±$50k 19% above VT |
| Ripton and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327 about the VT average |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
— | $1,394±$132Highest 13% above VT |
| St. George 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,514Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
96%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| St. George and Castleton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.6%±8.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| St. George and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.