Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Sheffield vs Waterville
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 people working from home (14.2%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Sheffield | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Highest |
573Lowest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Sheffield 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% |
19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Sheffield 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% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Sheffield 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 |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Waterville 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 |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
$967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Waterville 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 |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$3,957Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
30 minLowest 28% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Waterville 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None 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.