Compare towns
Waterville vs Bennington vs Bakersfield
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%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
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 | Waterville | Bennington | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
15,249Highest |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
46.4±8 8% 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%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Bennington 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% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington 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% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$271,300±$19kHighest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Bennington 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 |
$4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| 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.