Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Westminster vs Windham 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%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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.
| Measure | Bakersfield | Westminster | Windham | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109Highest |
497Lowest |
594 |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Windham and Westminster 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 |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
— | $1,110±$93 10% 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 |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Windham 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school 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.