Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Ripton vs Vershire vs Fletcher
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
Fletcher has the most homeowners (96.1%).
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 | Vershire | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
508Lowest |
842 |
1,196Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.7±9.3Lowest 6% above VT |
48.7±7.3Highest 13% above VT |
| Fletcher and Ripton 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% |
19.1%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Vershire and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Vershire 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% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,618±$12kLowest 12% below VT |
$105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
| Ripton and Fletcher 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 |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
$302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Fletcher 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 |
— | $1,117±$80Lowest 9% 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,640 8% below VT |
$4,965Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire 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% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 min 38% above VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2Lowest 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 | — | Fletcher School District |
| 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.