Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Newfields vs Sheldon
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).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Newfields | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
2,023 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k 3% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Sheldon 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfields and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Newfields School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.