Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Lancaster vs Fletcher
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%).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Lancaster | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
3,216Highest |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 19% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
48.7±7.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Fletcher and Bakersfield 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% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Fletcher 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% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bakersfield and Lancaster 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. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$105,833±$9kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Fletcher 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. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$302,100±$37kHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Fletcher and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327 15% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,679±$427Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Fletcher 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. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$4,965Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±78.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fletcher and Lancaster 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bakersfield and Fletcher 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | White Mountains Regional School District | Fletcher School District |
| 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.