Compare towns

Bakersfield vs Dummerston vs Ripton

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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

MeasureBakersfieldDummerstonRipton
People
Population
1,109
2,090Highest
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.4±8
8% above VT
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% above VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% 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%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Dummerston 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%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±4.7
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$83,462±$18kLowest
about the VT average
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
Ripton and Dummerston 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
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,200±$327Lowest
about the VT average
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
—
Dummerston 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
$4,536
10% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
18.8%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Dummerston 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%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94%Highest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
40% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
14.2%±7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 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

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.