Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Putney 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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
19%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fletcher and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
| Fletcher and Bakersfield 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±$44k 5% below VT |
$302,100±$37kHighest 5% below VT |
| Fletcher and Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Fletcher and Bakersfield 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 |
$4,965 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Fletcher 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2Lowest 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 | Fletcher School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.