Compare towns

Hancock vs Bakersfield vs Whiting

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).

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.

MeasureHancockBakersfieldWhiting
People
Population
435Lowest
1,109Highest
532
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.7%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
33.8±11.6Lowest
22% below VT
46.4±8Highest
8% above VT
39.6±2.7
8% below VT
Bakersfield and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±5.8
VT: 17.9%
13.6%±3.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23.5%±6.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Whiting and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±3.6
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±3.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
13%±5.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bakersfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.3%
VT: 43.8%
39.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
25.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.6Lowest
VT: 7%
7.5%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
6.2%±4
VT: 7%
Bakersfield and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,250±$34kLowest
6% below VT
$83,462±$18k
about the VT average
$91,250±$38kHighest
12% above VT
Whiting and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$187,900±$11kLowest
41% below VT
$271,300±$19k
14% below VT
$280,400±$36kHighest
11% below VT
Whiting and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$939±$19Lowest
24% below VT
$1,200±$327
about the VT average
$1,204±$519Highest
about the VT average
Whiting and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,511Lowest
30% below VT
$3,823
24% below VT
$4,227Highest
16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
3.5%±16.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
18.8%±100
VT: 48.4%
58.3%±37.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
Whiting and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
11.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94%Highest
VT: 73.2%
65.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
17% above VT
33 minHighest
40% above VT
22 minLowest
7% below VT
Work from home
11.7%±5
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±7Highest
VT: 16.9%
10%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Bakersfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
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.