Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Sheldon vs Stratton
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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
2,267Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon 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%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Sheldon 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%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton 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±$19kLowest 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Lowest about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Stratton 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 |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Bakersfield and Stratton 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| 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.