Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Rowe 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 people working from home (14.2%).
Rowe has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Fairfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Rowe | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109 |
453Lowest |
1,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 19% above U.S. |
48.9±6.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rowe 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% |
23%±5 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rowe 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest 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±$18k 3% above U.S. |
$69,583±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Fairfield 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±$19kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$275,000±$41k 17% below U.S. |
$320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Rowe 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. |
$1,313±$576Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Rowe and Bakersfield 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. |
$1,458Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairfield and Bakersfield 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% |
15.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bakersfield and Fairfield 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 | Rowe | 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.