What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bakersfield has the highest household income ($83k).

Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bakersfield	Washington
People
Population	1,109Highest	1,056Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-0.7%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT	52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT
	Washington and Bakersfield 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%	16.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Washington and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4%	24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4%
	Washington 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%	31%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7%	2.7%±2Lowest VT: 7%
	Bakersfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average	$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT
	Bakersfield and Washington 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	$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT
	Bakersfield and Washington 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	$996±$285Lowest 19% below VT
	Bakersfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,823Highest 24% below VT	$3,485Lowest 31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	34.5%±63.6Highest VT: 48.4%
	Washington and Bakersfield 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%	3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Lowest VT: 73.2%	94.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 40% above VT	31 minLowest 31% above VT
Work from home	14.2%±7Lowest VT: 16.9%	14.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Washington 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	Echo Valley Community Union School District #67
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.