What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bakersfield has the most affordable homes ($271k median).

Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bakersfield	Dorset
People
Population	1,109Lowest	2,092Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+5%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.4±8Highest 8% above VT	45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT
	Bakersfield and Dorset 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%	24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	21.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4%
	Dorset 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%Lowest VT: 43.8%	72.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7%	2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Bakersfield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,462±$18kLowest about the VT average	$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT
	Dorset 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±$19kLowest 14% below VT	$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$327Lowest about the VT average	$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT
	Dorset and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,823Lowest 24% below VT	$7,489Highest 49% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4%
	Dorset and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	11.2%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest VT: 73.2%	90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 40% above VT	22 minLowest 8% below VT
Work from home	14.2%±7Lowest VT: 16.9%	29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.