What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Bakersfield has the youngest 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.

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

Measure	Townshend	Bakersfield
People
Population	1,538Highest	1,109Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT	46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT
	Townshend and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9%	13.6%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Bakersfield and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Bakersfield and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	39.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7%	7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,750±$29kLowest 3% below VT	$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average
	Bakersfield and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT	$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT
	Townshend and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT	$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average
	Bakersfield and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,364Highest 6% above VT	$3,823Lowest 24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4%	18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Townshend and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	94%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 6 yrs newer than VT	1982 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% above VT	33 minHighest 40% above VT
Work from home	28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9%	14.2%±7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Townshend and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town	Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.1	—
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.