Compare towns
Sheldon vs Bakersfield vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Bakersfield has the highest household income ($83k).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Sheldon | Bakersfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,109 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
46.4±8 8% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Sheldon and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Worcester and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Bakersfield 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.