Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Castleton vs Wheelock vs Fletcher
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Wheelock | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
4,453Highest |
717Lowest |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
| Wheelock and Fletcher 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% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
19%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fletcher 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%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Fletcher 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% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
| Fletcher 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±$71k 29% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$302,100±$37kHighest 5% below VT |
| Fletcher and Bakersfield 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 |
— | $1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Fletcher 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 |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,965Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Fletcher 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
96.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | — | Fletcher School District |
| 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.