Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Groton vs Hardwick
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%).
Groton has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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 | Groton | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
967Lowest |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
| Hardwick and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Bakersfield 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% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick 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% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$77,250±$14kLowest 5% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
| Hardwick 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±$19kHighest 14% below VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Groton 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 |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Hardwick 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 |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Bakersfield 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% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
29 minLowest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Groton 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 | — | — | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
| 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.