Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Putney 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 highest household income ($83k).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Putney | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
2,622Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% 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% |
15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest 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% |
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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$77,250±$14kLowest 5% below VT |
| 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±$19k 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% 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±$482 59% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% 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 | $3,823 24% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest 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 | 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.