Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Strafford 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 homeowners (94%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Strafford | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
1,372Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Strafford and Waterville 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Waterville 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Waterville 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Bakersfield 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 | Strafford School District | 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 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.