Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Newark vs Groton
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 expensive homes ($271k median).
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Groton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Newark | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Highest |
727Lowest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| Bakersfield and Groton 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% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Groton 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% |
41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$72,929±$7kLowest 10% below VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19kHighest 14% below VT |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Groton 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 |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823Highest 24% below VT |
$3,771 25% below VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Bakersfield and Groton 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% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
30 minLowest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Newark 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| 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.