What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyndon has the shortest commute (23 min average).

Bakersfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lyndon	Bakersfield
People
Population	5,590Highest	1,109Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-3.7%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	48.4±6.7Highest 12% above VT	46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT
	Lyndon and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9%	13.6%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Bakersfield and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4%	21.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Lyndon and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%	39.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.8%±2Highest VT: 7%	7.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 7%
	Lyndon and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,786±$6kLowest 15% below VT	$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average
	Bakersfield and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,000±$21kLowest 28% below VT	$271,300±$19kHighest 14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$123Lowest 11% below VT	$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average
	Bakersfield and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,846Highest 24% below VT	$3,823Lowest 24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±15.2Highest VT: 48.4%	18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Lyndon and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Highest VT: 10.1%	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	94%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest about the VT average	33 minHighest 40% above VT
Work from home	10.5%±3.4Lowest VT: 16.9%	14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Bakersfield and Lyndon 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	#44 of 70 in VT	—
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 History	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.