Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Fairfield vs Walden
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 homeowners (94%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
1,938Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
| Walden and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Walden 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% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Walden 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 |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden 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±$19k 14% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% 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 |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.