What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).

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.

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

Measure	Peacham	Bakersfield
People
Population	887Lowest	1,109Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT	46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT
	Peacham and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9%	13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Peacham and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4%	21.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	39.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±4Lowest VT: 7%	7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7%
	Bakersfield and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT	$83,462±$18kLowest about the VT average
	Peacham and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$302,000±$64kHighest 5% below VT	$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT
	Peacham and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT	$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average
	Bakersfield and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,605Highest 11% above VT	$3,823Lowest 24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4%	18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Peacham and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Highest VT: 10.1%	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	94%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest same as VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 31% above VT	33 minHighest 40% above VT
Work from home	24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9%	14.2%±7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Peacham and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Peacham School District	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

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.