Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sutton vs Wheelock 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%).
Sutton has the most renters (15% rent).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Sutton | Wheelock | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938Highest |
790 |
717Lowest |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
46.4±8 8% above VT |
| Wheelock and Sutton 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Wheelock 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 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±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% 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 |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
— | — | $1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Fairfield 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 |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Sutton 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% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 26% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Bakersfield 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | 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 | 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.