What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stamford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).

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.

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

Measure	Stamford	Bakersfield
People
Population	963Lowest	1,109Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	49.4±5.5Highest 15% above VT	46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT
	Stamford and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9%	13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Stamford and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Bakersfield and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Lowest VT: 43.8%	39.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.4Lowest VT: 7%	7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7%
	Bakersfield and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,646±$9kHighest 9% above VT	$83,462±$18kLowest about the VT average
	Stamford and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$303,200±$25kHighest 4% below VT	$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT
	Stamford and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,583±$935Highest 28% above VT	$1,200±$327Lowest about the VT average
	Stamford and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,113Highest about the VT average	$3,823Lowest 24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.6%±100Highest VT: 48.4%	18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Stamford and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	7.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	94%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 30% above VT	33 minHighest 40% above VT
Work from home	8.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Bakersfield and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stamford 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.