Compare towns
Stratton vs Bakersfield vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Bakersfield has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Wardsboro has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Stratton | Bakersfield | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
1,109Highest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
46.4±8 8% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Stratton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,200±$327Lowest about the VT average |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Wardsboro 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school 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.