Compare towns
Fairfield vs Bennington vs Proctor vs Bakersfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Fairfield | Bennington | Proctor | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
15,249Highest |
1,794 |
1,109Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
| Bakersfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
8.7Lowest |
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| 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.