Compare towns

Fairfield vs Windham 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).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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.

MeasureFairfieldWindhamBakersfield
People
Population
1,938Highest
594Lowest
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
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
46.4±8Highest
8% above VT
Bakersfield and Windham 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%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
13.6%±3.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Fairfield and Windham 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%
23.2%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
Windham 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%
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
39.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.6
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
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
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$83,462±$18kLowest
about the VT average
Windham 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
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
$271,300±$19kLowest
14% below VT
Windham 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
—
$1,200±$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
$4,816
4% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$3,823Lowest
24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.2%±20.4
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94Highest
VT: 48.4%
18.8%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Windham 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%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.5%
VT: 73.2%
82.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1982Lowest
6 yrs newer than VT
1982Lowest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
27 min
14% above VT
33 minHighest
40% above VT
Work from home
7.8%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±7
VT: 16.9%
Windham 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 — 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.