Compare towns
Fletcher vs Fairfax vs Bakersfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fletcher has the oldest population (median age 48.7).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Fletcher | Fairfax | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,196 |
5,226Highest |
1,109Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3Highest 13% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
46.4±8 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%±4 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Fletcher 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 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% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$83,462±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| Fairfax and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,200±$327 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 | $4,965 about the VT average |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Fletcher 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
31 minLowest 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Fletcher School District | Fairfax School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.