What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bakersfield has the most expensive homes ($271k median).

Massena has the most affordable homes ($94k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bakersfield	Massena
People
Population	1,109Lowest	10,238Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±8Highest 19% above U.S.	42.6±4.7Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Bakersfield and Massena 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%	19.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Massena and Bakersfield 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%	20.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bakersfield and Massena 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%	25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bakersfield and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,462±$18kHighest 3% above U.S.	$51,458±$7kLowest 36% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,300±$19kHighest 18% below U.S.	$94,400±$15kLowest 72% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$327Highest 15% below U.S.	$722±$44Lowest 49% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,823Highest 23% above U.S.	$3,218Lowest 3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.8%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Massena and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	24.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	18 minLowest 32% below U.S.
Work from home	14.2%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bakersfield and Massena 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.