Compare towns
Groton vs Jay vs Ripton 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 youngest population (median age 45.7).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Groton | Jay | Ripton | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 967 |
471Lowest |
508 |
1,109Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.4±8 8% above VT |
| Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Bakersfield 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
— | — | $1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659 27% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,823 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Jay 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 29% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.