Compare towns
Belvidere vs Castleton vs Worcester vs Bakersfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
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 | Belvidere | Castleton | Worcester | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422Lowest |
4,453Highest |
831 |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
46.4±8 8% above VT |
| Worcester and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$271,300±$19kHighest 14% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
| Belvidere and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.