What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Strafford	Bakersfield
People
Population	1,372Highest	1,109Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT	46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT
	Strafford and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%	13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4%	21.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Strafford and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	39.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7%	7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7%
	Bakersfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT	$83,462±$18kLowest about the VT average
	Strafford and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT	$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT	$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average
	Bakersfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,149Highest 42% above VT	$3,823Lowest 24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4%	18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Strafford and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%	7.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	94%Highest 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	23 minLowest about the VT average	33 minHighest 40% above VT
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9%	14.2%±7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Strafford and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Strafford 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 History	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.