Compare towns
Waterford vs Castleton vs Bakersfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Bakersfield has the oldest 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.
| Measure | Waterford | Castleton | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,279 |
4,453Highest |
1,109Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±5.3 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
| Bakersfield and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Waterford and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,375±$19kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
| Waterford and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,500±$22kHighest 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
| Waterford and Bakersfield 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 |
$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,238Highest 16% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.3%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Waterford and Bakersfield 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 Our Story | 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.