Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Hancock vs Ripton vs Fairfield
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 homeowners (94%).
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% 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 | Hancock | Ripton | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
435Lowest |
508 |
1,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Ripton 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% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Hancock 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% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Ripton and Fairfield 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 |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Fairfield 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 |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
— | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Fairfield 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 |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Fairfield 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% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| 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.