What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

Bakersfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fletcher	Bakersfield
People
Population	1,196Highest	1,109Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	48.7±7.3Highest 13% above VT	46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT
	Fletcher and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±4Highest VT: 17.9%	13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Fletcher and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±4Highest VT: 21.4%	21.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Fletcher and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%	39.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7%	7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7%
	Bakersfield and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT	$83,462±$18kLowest about the VT average
	Fletcher and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$302,100±$37kHighest 5% below VT	$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT
	Fletcher and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT	$1,200±$327Lowest about the VT average
	Fletcher and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,965Highest about the VT average	$3,823Lowest 24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±78.3Highest VT: 48.4%	18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Fletcher and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%	7.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	94%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT	1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 37% above VT	33 minHighest 40% above VT
Work from home	12.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Bakersfield and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Fletcher School District	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.