Compare towns
Waterville vs Sheldon 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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Sheldon | Proctor | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,794 |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Proctor 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.