Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Williston vs Groton
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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Williston | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
10,144Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| Bakersfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Bakersfield 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$77,250±$14kLowest 5% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327 about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823 24% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Bakersfield 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| 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.