Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Ripton vs Fairfield vs Belvidere
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 homeowners (94%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k 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 | Ripton | Fairfield | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
508 |
1,938Highest |
422Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
| Ripton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Belvidere 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$81,563±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Fairfield 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
| Ripton and Fairfield 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 |
— | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
| Belvidere 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.