Compare towns

Walden vs Bakersfield vs Stannard

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Bakersfield has the most expensive homes ($271k median).
Stannard has the most affordable homes ($216k median).

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.

MeasureWaldenBakersfieldStannard
People
Population
1,037
1,109Highest
228Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
48.8±3.2Highest
13% above VT
46.4±8Lowest
8% above VT
48.3±14.6
12% above VT
Walden and Stannard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.3%±3.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.6%±3.5
VT: 17.9%
13.2%±9.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Walden and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
25.9%±8.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
Stannard and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
39.2%
VT: 43.8%
44.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.1
VT: 7%
7.5%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
0%±6.2Lowest
VT: 7%
Bakersfield and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,000±$15kHighest
8% above VT
$83,462±$18k
about the VT average
$66,979±$30kLowest
18% below VT
Walden and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$238,900±$23k
25% below VT
$271,300±$19kHighest
14% below VT
$216,200±$44kLowest
32% below VT
Bakersfield and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$900±$136Lowest
27% below VT
$1,200±$327Highest
about the VT average
—
Bakersfield and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,944
22% below VT
$3,823Lowest
24% below VT
$4,183Highest
17% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.3%±86.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
18.8%±100
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Walden and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
3.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94%
VT: 73.2%
98.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1977Lowest
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
10% above VT
33 minHighest
40% above VT
27 min
16% above VT
Work from home
21.4%±6.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±7
VT: 16.9%
8.6%±5.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Walden and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 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.