Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Fairfield vs Middlesex
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).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Fairfield | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
1,938 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Bakersfield and Middlesex 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% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Middlesex 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% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Middlesex 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 |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Fairfield 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 |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Fairfield 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 |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfield and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Bakersfield 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.