Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Waterville vs Windham 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 most homeowners (94%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
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 | Waterville | Windham | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
680 |
594Lowest |
1,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Waterville 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% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield 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% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 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 |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Windham and Fairfield 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 |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Windham and Fairfield 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 |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
— | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Waterville 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 |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Windham 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| 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 | 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.