Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Groton vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Highest |
967 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$77,250±$14kLowest 5% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
| Reading 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 |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
30 minLowest 29% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.