Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Sheldon vs Enosburgh 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%).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Sheldon | Enosburgh | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
2,267 |
2,804Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Enosburgh 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Enosburgh 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Sheldon and Bakersfield 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Sheldon and Bakersfield 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$3,957Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Enosburgh and Waterville 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
32 min 36% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon 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 | — | — | #26 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.