Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Springfield vs Fairfield
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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Springfield | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
9,084Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Springfield 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Fairfield 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
| Fairfield 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Fairfield 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Fairfield 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.