Compare towns
Sudbury vs Castleton vs Whiting vs Bakersfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sudbury has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
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.
| Measure | Sudbury | Castleton | Whiting | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 679 |
4,453Highest |
532Lowest |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.9 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
| Bakersfield and Sudbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±7.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Sudbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Sudbury and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,208±$33kHighest 23% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
| Sudbury and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$49kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
| Sudbury and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
| Whiting and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,205 17% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 50 minHighest 113% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Sudbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | 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 History | 10 photos → | 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.