Compare towns
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
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Bakersfield has the highest household income ($83k).
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 | Castleton | Worcester | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
831Lowest |
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 | 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 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $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 | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 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 |
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.