What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Haven has the most kids (17.5% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	West Haven	Bakersfield
People
Population	234Lowest	1,109Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.7% VT: +2.8%
Median age	54±10.5Highest 25% above VT	46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT
	West Haven and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±13.3Highest VT: 17.9%	13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	West Haven and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4%	21.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	39.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7%	7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7%
	Bakersfield and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,250±$29kHighest 5% above VT	$83,462±$18kLowest about the VT average
	West Haven and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,000±$34kLowest 23% below VT	$271,300±$19kHighest 14% below VT
	Bakersfield and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,200±$327 about the VT average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,485Highest 11% below VT	$3,823Lowest 24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	18.8%±100Highest VT: 48.4%
	Bakersfield and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest VT: 10.1%	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	94%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 8% above VT	33 minHighest 40% above VT
Work from home	10.4%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Bakersfield and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.