Compare towns

Bakersfield vs St. Albans vs Groton

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%).
St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).

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.

MeasureBakersfieldSt. AlbansGroton
People
Population
1,109
6,954Highest
967Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.4±8Highest
8% above VT
38.7±2Lowest
10% below VT
45.7±5.8
6% above VT
Bakersfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.6%±3.5
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±3.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.3%±2.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
St. Albans and Bakersfield 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%
13.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.5%±3
VT: 21.4%
Bakersfield and Groton 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%
31.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
38.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
7.5%±5.7Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$83,462±$18kHighest
about the VT average
$57,980±$7kLowest
29% below VT
$77,250±$14k
5% below VT
Bakersfield and Groton 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
$263,400±$18k
17% below VT
$243,000±$70kLowest
23% below VT
Bakersfield and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,200±$327Highest
about the VT average
$1,150±$78
7% below VT
$288±$151Lowest
77% below VT
Bakersfield and St. Albans 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
$4,436Highest
12% below VT
$3,659Lowest
27% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
18.8%±100
VT: 48.4%
51.8%±11.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
12.5%±72.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
St. Albans and Bakersfield 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%
19.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94%
VT: 73.2%
49%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1945Lowest
31 yrs older than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
40% above VT
23 minLowest
4% below VT
30 min
29% above VT
Work from home
14.2%±7Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±7
VT: 16.9%
Bakersfield and Groton 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 — #46 of 70 in VT —
School district Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 —
High school in town None in town Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4
—
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.