Compare towns
Stratton vs Sheldon vs Bakersfield
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 highest household income ($123k).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Bakersfield has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Sheldon | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon 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% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon 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 |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
| 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,200±$327Lowest about the VT average |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bakersfield and Stratton 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 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 | |||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 | 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.