Compare towns
Highgate 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
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
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 | Highgate | Castleton | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528 |
4,453Highest |
1,109Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
| Bakersfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
| Highgate and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% 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 | $3,558 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,823Highest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.