Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Guildhall vs Sheldon vs Fletcher
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%).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Sheldon has the most renters (11% rent).
Fletcher has the oldest population (median age 48.7).
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 | Guildhall | Sheldon | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
371Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
42.6±7.8 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
48.7±7.3Highest 13% above VT |
| Fletcher 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% |
22.6%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Guildhall 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% |
26.1%±5.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Guildhall 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.9% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
| Guildhall 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±$19kLowest 14% below VT |
$321,200±$62kHighest about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
| Guildhall and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327 about the VT average |
$850±$717Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Fletcher and Sheldon 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 |
$4,625 8% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,965Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Guildhall and Fletcher 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% |
11.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Fletcher School District |
| 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.