What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bakersfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).

Rockingham has the most kids (19.2% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bakersfield	Rockingham
People
Population	1,109Lowest	4,807Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.4±8 8% above VT	46.4±2.6 8% above VT
Kids under 18	13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%	19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Rockingham 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%	29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4%
	Rockingham 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%Highest VT: 43.8%	37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7%	6.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7%
	Bakersfield and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average	$70,857±$16kLowest 13% below VT
	Bakersfield and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,300±$19kHighest 14% below VT	$210,900±$14kLowest 33% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average	$1,062±$101Lowest 14% below VT
	Bakersfield and Rockingham 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	$4,887Highest 3% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	46.7%±13.7Highest VT: 48.4%
	Rockingham 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%	16.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest VT: 73.2%	61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 40% above VT	20 minLowest 16% below VT
Work from home	14.2%±7Lowest VT: 16.9%	17.9%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9%
	Rockingham 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	—	#65 of 70 in VT
School district	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85	Rockingham School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.