Compare towns

Wallingford vs Bakersfield vs Whitingham

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Bakersfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).

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.

MeasureWallingfordBakersfieldWhitingham
People
Population
2,286Highest
1,109Lowest
1,368
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.9±10.8Lowest
6% above VT
46.4±8Highest
8% above VT
46.4±7.1Highest
8% above VT
Kids under 18
18.7%±5
VT: 17.9%
13.6%±3.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.8%±4.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Whitingham and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.9%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
31.1%±2.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
39.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
7.5%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.2%±1.9
VT: 7%
Bakersfield and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,230±$15k
about the VT average
$83,462±$18kHighest
about the VT average
$70,625±$11kLowest
13% below VT
Bakersfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$261,900±$44kLowest
17% below VT
$271,300±$19kHighest
14% below VT
$262,300±$30k
17% below VT
Bakersfield and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$891±$95
28% below VT
$1,200±$327Highest
about the VT average
$673±$150Lowest
45% below VT
Bakersfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,355
14% below VT
$3,823Lowest
24% below VT
$5,055Highest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
14.3%±13.5Lowest
VT: 48.4%
18.8%±100
VT: 48.4%
62.7%±47.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
Whitingham and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.2%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% above VT
33 min
40% above VT
38 minHighest
62% above VT
Work from home
7.1%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±7Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.7%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
Bakersfield and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mill River Unified Union School District #52 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Twin Valley Unified School District #75
High school in town None in town None in town Twin Valley Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
7.8
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.