Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Jackson 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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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.
| Measure | Bakersfield | Jackson | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
897Lowest |
1,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 19% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 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±$18kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
| Jackson 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. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327 15% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Jackson 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. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,816 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairfield and Jackson 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson 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 | Jackson School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None 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.