Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Highgate vs Swanton
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%).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% 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 | Highgate | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Highgate 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%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Highgate 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% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% 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 |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% 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±$327 about the VT average |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Bakersfield 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Swanton 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% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Bakersfield 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.