What stands out worked out from the figures below

Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

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	Swanton	Bakersfield
People
Population	6,820Highest	1,109Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.7±5.5Lowest about the VT average	46.4±8Highest 8% above VT
	Bakersfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9%	13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Swanton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Bakersfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%	39.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7%
	Bakersfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,371±$14kLowest about the VT average	$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average
	Bakersfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$285,100±$35kHighest 10% below VT	$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT
	Swanton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average	$1,200±$327Lowest about the VT average
	Swanton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,449Highest 12% below VT	$3,823Lowest 24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±14.2Highest VT: 48.4%	18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Swanton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest VT: 10.1%	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	94%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest same as 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	8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9%	14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Bakersfield and Swanton 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	#27 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	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.