Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Plainfield vs Sheldon vs Enosburgh
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 highest household income ($83k).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
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 | Plainfield | Sheldon | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
1,314 |
2,267 |
2,804Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Plainfield 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Enosburgh 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 |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon 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 |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
| Plainfield and Sheldon 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Enosburgh 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
32 min 36% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.