Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Ripton vs Wheelock
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 youngest population (median age 46.4).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wheelock has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Highest |
508Lowest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Wheelock 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% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Bakersfield 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% |
29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wheelock 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% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Ripton 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±$19k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327 about the VT average |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823 24% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Ripton 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.