Compare towns

Groton vs Castleton vs Bakersfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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.

MeasureGrotonCastletonBakersfield
People
Population
967Lowest
4,453Highest
1,109
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.7±5.8
6% above VT
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
46.4±8Highest
8% above VT
Bakersfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.3%±2.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.6%±3.5
VT: 17.9%
Castleton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.5%±3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±3.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bakersfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.1%
VT: 43.8%
37.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
39.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±5.7Lowest
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
7.5%±4.7Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,250±$14k
5% below VT
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below VT
$83,462±$18kHighest
about the VT average
Bakersfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$243,000±$70k
23% below VT
$224,800±$71kLowest
29% below VT
$271,300±$19kHighest
14% below VT
Bakersfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$288±$151Lowest
77% below VT
$1,137±$195
8% below VT
$1,200±$327Highest
about the VT average
Bakersfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,659
27% below VT
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
$3,823Highest
24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
12.5%±72.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
18.8%±100
VT: 48.4%
Castleton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
29% above VT
19 minLowest
17% below VT
33 minHighest
40% above VT
Work from home
12.3%±7
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Bakersfield and Groton 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 — #39 of 70 in VT —
School district — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 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.