Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Mendon vs Waterford
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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Waterford has the most kids (16.7% 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 | Mendon | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
1,113 |
1,279Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
45.4±5.3Lowest 5% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$109,375±$19kHighest 35% above VT |
| Waterford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$271,500±$22k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Lowest about the VT average |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
— |
| Mendon and Bakersfield 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,238 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
— |
| Mendon and Bakersfield 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% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
99%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.3%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Waterford 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 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.