Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Fairfield vs Hampton
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 people working from home (14.2%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
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 | Bakersfield | Fairfield | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
1,938Highest |
1,145 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Hampton 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% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bakersfield and Hampton 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% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bakersfield and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k 3% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19k 18% below U.S. |
$320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327 15% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823 23% above U.S. |
$4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairfield and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bakersfield and Fairfield 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.