Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Middlesex vs Sheldon 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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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.
| Measure | Bakersfield | Middlesex | Sheldon | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
1,943 |
2,267Highest |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
| Middlesex and Fletcher 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Lowest about the VT average |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Fletcher and Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,965 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fletcher and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Bakersfield 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Fletcher School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.