Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Hampton vs Middlesex
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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Hampton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
1,145 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Middlesex 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% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bakersfield and Middlesex 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. |
$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hampton 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. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bakersfield and Hampton 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% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Bakersfield 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 |
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.