Compare towns
Waterville vs Randolph vs Proctor 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%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Randolph | Proctor | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
4,843Highest |
1,794 |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
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%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Proctor 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% |
40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Bakersfield 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 |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Randolph 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 |
$278,700±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
| Randolph and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Randolph 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 |
$4,698Highest 7% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Randolph 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.