Compare towns

Bakersfield vs Lowell 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%).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

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.

MeasureBakersfieldLowellFletcher
People
Population
1,109
1,070Lowest
1,196Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.9%
VT: +2.8%
+5.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.4±8
8% above VT
32.9±6.5Lowest
24% 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%
30.7%±6.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
19%±4
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
21.2%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
12.3%±4.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.7%±4Highest
VT: 21.4%
Fletcher 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%
19.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
32.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.9
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
Bakersfield and Lowell 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
$57,404±$15kLowest
29% below VT
$105,833±$9kHighest
30% above VT
Fletcher and Bakersfield 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
$183,400±$33kLowest
42% below VT
$302,100±$37kHighest
5% below VT
Fletcher 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
$945±$46Lowest
23% below VT
$1,679±$427Highest
36% above VT
Fletcher 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
$2,810Lowest
44% below VT
$4,965Highest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
18.8%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
26.3%±92.9
VT: 48.4%
42.1%±78.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
Fletcher and Lowell 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%
9.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.1%
VT: 73.2%
96.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
6 yrs newer than VT
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
1987Highest
11 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
40% above VT
55 minHighest
135% above VT
32 minLowest
37% above VT
Work from home
14.2%±7Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.5%±2.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
Bakersfield and Fletcher 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 Lowell School District 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

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.