Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Fletcher vs Ripton vs Belvidere
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fletcher has the most homeowners (96.1%).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Fletcher | Ripton | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
1,196Highest |
508 |
422Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
48.7±7.3Highest 13% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
| Fletcher and Ripton 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% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Fletcher 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% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Fletcher 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% |
32.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,563±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Fletcher 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 |
$302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
| Ripton and Fletcher 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 |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
— | $1,542±$1k 25% above VT |
| Fletcher and Belvidere 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 |
$4,965Highest about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Ripton 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | Fletcher School District | 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 | 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.