Compare towns

Bakersfield vs Epping vs Fairfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bakersfield has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureBakersfieldEppingFairfield
People
Population
1,109Lowest
7,430Highest
1,938
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±8Highest
19% above U.S.
45.1±3.5
16% above U.S.
42.3±2.7Lowest
9% above U.S.
Bakersfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.6%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
25.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Fairfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.2%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Epping and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±3.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bakersfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$83,462±$18kLowest
3% above U.S.
$104,220±$7kHighest
29% above U.S.
$87,019±$22k
8% above U.S.
Epping and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,300±$19kLowest
18% below U.S.
$436,900±$35kHighest
31% above U.S.
$320,600±$22k
4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,200±$327
15% below U.S.
$1,742±$576Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,056±$441Lowest
25% below U.S.
Epping and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,823Lowest
23% above U.S.
$6,936Highest
122% above U.S.
$4,816
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
18.8%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.8%±25.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
29.2%±20.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Epping and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
32 min
22% above U.S.
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
Work from home
14.2%±7
U.S.: 15.1%
24%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Epping and Bakersfield 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 — #77 of 120 in NH —
School district Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Epping School District Maple Run Unified Union School District #57
High school in town None in town Epping High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.3
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.