Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Ira vs Waterville
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%).
Ira has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Ira | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Highest |
381Lowest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Ira and Waterville 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Waterville 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 |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Ira 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 |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Ira 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 |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Ira 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Waterville 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 | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.