Compare towns
Fairfield vs Minerva vs Bakersfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
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.
| Measure | Fairfield | Minerva | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Highest |
836Lowest |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
56.2±5.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
46.4±8 19% above U.S. |
| Minerva and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bakersfield and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$83,462±$18k 3% 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 | $320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$271,300±$19k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
$784±$102Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,200±$327Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
$2,608Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$3,823 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairfield and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bakersfield and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — | 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 | 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.