Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Unity vs Waterford
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 renters (6% rent).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Waterford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Unity | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
1,375Highest |
1,279 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 19% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.4±5.3Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Unity and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterford and Bakersfield 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bakersfield and Waterford 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. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$109,375±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Waterford and Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$271,500±$22k 18% below U.S. |
| Unity and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
— |
| Unity 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,238 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Unity 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
99%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.3%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterford 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 | Unity School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.