What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bakersfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).

Poultney has the most renters (43.3% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bakersfield	Poultney
People
Population	1,109Highest	1,033Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.4±8Highest 8% above VT	28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT
Kids under 18	13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%	16.8%±5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Poultney and Bakersfield 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%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Bakersfield and Poultney 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%	38.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 7%	22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average	$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT
	Bakersfield and Poultney 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	$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average	$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT
	Bakersfield and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,823Highest 24% below VT	$3,450Lowest 32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	23.2%±12.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Poultney and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	11.4%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest VT: 73.2%	56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 40% above VT	31 minLowest 33% above VT
Work from home	14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9%	11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Bakersfield and Poultney 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	—	#41 of 70 in VT
School district	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.