What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).

Putney has the shortest commute (18 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.

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

Measure	Bakersfield	Putney
People
Population	1,109Lowest	2,622Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.4±8Highest 8% above VT	37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT
	Bakersfield and Putney 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%	15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Putney 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%	18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Bakersfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%	48.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 7%	20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average	$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average
	Bakersfield and Putney 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	$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT
	Putney and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average	$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT
	Bakersfield and Putney 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	$5,313Highest 5% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Putney 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%	16%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest VT: 73.2%	72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT	1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 40% above VT	18 minLowest 24% below VT
Work from home	14.2%±7Lowest VT: 16.9%	16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9%
	Putney 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	—	#32 of 70 in VT
School district	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.