Compare towns
Waterville vs Ripton vs Whitingham 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 the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Ripton | Whitingham | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680 |
508Lowest |
1,368Highest |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT |
| Waterville and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Whitingham 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% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Ripton 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
| Ripton 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
— | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Waterville 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 60% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.