Compare towns

Waterville vs Bakersfield vs Dummerston

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).

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.

MeasureWatervilleBakersfieldDummerston
People
Population
680Lowest
1,109
2,090Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
49.1±8.2Highest
14% above VT
46.4±8
8% above VT
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% above VT
Waterville and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.4%±8.2
VT: 17.9%
13.6%±3.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.4%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
39.2%
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.3
VT: 7%
7.5%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Bakersfield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below VT
$83,462±$18k
about the VT average
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
Dummerston and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$236,300±$15kLowest
25% below VT
$271,300±$19k
14% below VT
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,110±$93Lowest
10% below VT
$1,200±$327
about the VT average
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
Dummerston and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,957
21% below VT
$3,823Lowest
24% below VT
$4,536Highest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±27.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
18.8%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
Waterville and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.9%
VT: 10.1%
7.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94%Highest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
60% above VT
33 min
40% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
Work from home
8.5%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±7
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None 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.