Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Fairfield vs Sheldon vs Wallingford
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 people working from home (14.2%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Wallingford has the most renters (17.5% rent).
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 | Sheldon | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
1,938 |
2,267 |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Bakersfield and Wallingford 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% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$80,230±$15k 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±$19k 14% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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±$441 14% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None 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.