Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Groton vs Plainfield
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 highest household income ($83k).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
967Lowest |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Plainfield 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% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Groton 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 |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Bakersfield 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.