Compare towns
Fairfield vs Middlebury 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 the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 23.7).
Bakersfield has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
7,220Highest |
1,109Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
| Bakersfield and Fairfield 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% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$86,250±$18k 6% above VT |
$83,462±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$417,400±$31kHighest 32% above VT |
$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,201±$120Highest about the VT average |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
| Middlebury and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 4% below VT |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.