Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Fairfield vs Putney
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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
1,938 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Fairfield 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Putney 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| Fairfield 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 |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Fairfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Fairfield 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Fairfield 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.