Compare towns
Waterville vs Castleton vs Vershire 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%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
Bakersfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).
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 | Castleton | Vershire | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
4,453Highest |
842 |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.7±9.3 6% 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Vershire 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Vershire 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,618±$12k 12% below VT |
$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Castleton 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 |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
$271,300±$19kHighest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,117±$80 9% 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 | $3,957 21% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,640Highest 8% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire and Castleton 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.5% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Vershire 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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 History | None yet | 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.