Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Highgate vs Jay
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).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Highgate | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
3,528Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Jay 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
— |
| Bakersfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823Highest 24% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
31 minLowest 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.