Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Stratton vs Whiting
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%).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Stratton | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Highest |
532Lowest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Whiting 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Whiting 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Whiting 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Stratton and Whiting 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Lowest about the VT average |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Stratton and Whiting 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 |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Whiting 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 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.