Compare towns

Richford vs Bakersfield vs Jay

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Richford has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Bakersfield has the most expensive homes ($271k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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.

MeasureRichfordBakersfieldJay
People
Population
2,467Highest
1,109
471Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.6%
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
39±3.6Lowest
10% below VT
46.4±8
8% above VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
Jay and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.8%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.6%±3.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3
VT: 17.9%
Richford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.4%±4.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Richford and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
39.2%
VT: 43.8%
45.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.4%±3.6
VT: 7%
7.5%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Bakersfield and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,853±$13kLowest
30% below VT
$83,462±$18kHighest
about the VT average
$74,792±$25k
8% below VT
Bakersfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$176,600±$16kLowest
44% below VT
$271,300±$19kHighest
14% below VT
$234,200±$45k
26% below VT
Bakersfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,160±$66Lowest
6% below VT
$1,200±$327Highest
about the VT average
—
Bakersfield and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,300Lowest
35% below VT
$3,823Highest
24% below VT
$3,588
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±15.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
18.8%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
Richford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94%
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
18% above VT
33 min
40% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
Work from home
9.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±7
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Jay and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District
High school in town Richford Junior/Senior High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.1
— —
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.