Compare towns
Sheldon vs Vernon vs Bakersfield
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).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Bakersfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).
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 | Vernon | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
2,709Highest |
1,109Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
| Bakersfield and Vernon 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% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon and Bakersfield 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% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
| Vernon and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT |
| Vernon and Sheldon 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 |
$1,023±$214Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
| 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 |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Vernon 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% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Vernon School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.