Compare towns
Groton vs Putnam 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
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Groton | Putnam | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967 |
540Lowest |
1,109Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8Lowest 17% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
46.4±8 19% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$83,462±$18k 3% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$271,300±$19kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
— | $1,200±$327Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,823Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.8%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bakersfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bakersfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL 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 | 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.