Compare towns
Groton vs Newark 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Bakersfield has the most expensive 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 | Groton | Newark | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967 |
727Lowest |
1,109Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
41.4±6Lowest 4% 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% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Groton 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% |
41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$72,929±$7kLowest 10% 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 |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% 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 |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$3,771 25% below VT |
$3,823Highest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bakersfield and Groton 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% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 29% above VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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 | 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.