Compare towns

Shrewsbury vs Burke vs Bakersfield

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shrewsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Burke has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Bakersfield has the most affordable homes ($271k median).

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.

MeasureShrewsburyBurkeBakersfield
People
Population
1,237
1,317Highest
1,109Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.3±5.6
about the VT average
41.1±4.8Lowest
5% below VT
46.4±8Highest
8% above VT
Bakersfield and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25.1%±4.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
23%±4
VT: 17.9%
13.6%±3.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Shrewsbury and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.9%±5.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.7%±2.2
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Shrewsbury and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41%
VT: 43.8%
41.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
39.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.6%±2.3
VT: 7%
7.5%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
Bakersfield and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,250±$23kHighest
12% above VT
$87,143±$17k
7% above VT
$83,462±$18kLowest
about the VT average
Shrewsbury and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$331,900±$52k
5% above VT
$340,600±$18kHighest
8% above VT
$271,300±$19kLowest
14% below VT
Burke and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,438±$380Highest
17% above VT
$938±$191Lowest
24% below VT
$1,200±$327
about the VT average
Shrewsbury and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,350Highest
6% above VT
$5,177
about the VT average
$3,823Lowest
24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
71.4%±100
VT: 48.4%
74.6%±31Highest
VT: 48.4%
18.8%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Burke and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
10%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
11% above VT
25 minLowest
8% above VT
33 minHighest
40% above VT
Work from home
15.7%±4.9
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±6.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Burke and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mill River Unified Union School District #52 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 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.