Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Whiting vs Fletcher
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%).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Fletcher has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Whiting | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
532Lowest |
1,196Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
48.7±7.3Highest 13% above VT |
| Fletcher 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Fletcher 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fletcher 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
| Fletcher 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 |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$302,100±$37kHighest 5% below VT |
| Fletcher and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Lowest about the VT average |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Fletcher 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 |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$4,965Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Fletcher 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% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Fletcher 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 | Fletcher School District |
| 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.