What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

Bakersfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).

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	Bath	Bakersfield
People
Population	1,097Lowest	1,109Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±8.6Highest 25% above U.S.	46.4±8Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Bath and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%	13.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bath and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bath and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bakersfield and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,813±$22kLowest 16% below U.S.	$83,462±$18kHighest 3% above U.S.
	Bakersfield and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$234,400±$23kLowest 30% below U.S.	$271,300±$19kHighest 18% below U.S.
	Bakersfield and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average	$1,200±$327Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Bath and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,413Highest 41% above U.S.	$3,823Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	18.8%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bakersfield and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bakersfield and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Bath School District	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town	None 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.