What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

Bakersfield has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Calais	Bakersfield
People
Population	1,713Highest	1,109Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42±8.6Lowest about the VT average	46.4±8Highest 8% above VT
	Bakersfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9%	13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Calais and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%	21.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Calais and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.4%Highest VT: 43.8%	39.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.4%±3.4Lowest VT: 7%	7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7%
	Bakersfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT	$83,462±$18kLowest about the VT average
	Calais and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT	$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT	$1,200±$327Lowest about the VT average
	Calais and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,586Highest 31% above VT	$3,823Lowest 24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4%	18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Calais and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Highest VT: 10.1%	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%	94%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest same as VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 32% above VT	33 minHighest 40% above VT
Work from home	23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9%	14.2%±7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Calais and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	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
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.