Compare towns

Windham vs Bakersfield vs Worcester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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.

MeasureWindhamBakersfieldWorcester
People
Population
594Lowest
1,109Highest
831
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
46.4±8
8% above VT
47±2.7Highest
9% above VT
Worcester and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.6%±3.5
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Windham and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Windham and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
39.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
7.5%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
Bakersfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$83,462±$18k
about the VT average
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below VT
Windham and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
$271,300±$19k
14% below VT
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,200±$327Highest
about the VT average
$1,023±$136Lowest
17% below VT
Bakersfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$3,823Lowest
24% below VT
$4,421
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Highest
VT: 48.4%
18.8%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
14% above VT
33 minHighest
40% above VT
29 min
22% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
Worcester and Windham 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.