Compare towns
Fairfield vs Peru 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).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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.
| Measure | Fairfield | Peru | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Highest |
434Lowest |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
| Bakersfield and Peru 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%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Peru and Bakersfield 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% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$83,462±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| Peru and Fairfield 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 |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT |
| Peru and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
| Peru 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 |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 19% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| 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 | 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.