Compare towns
Groton vs Washington 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).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Bakersfield has the most renters (6% rent).
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 | Washington | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967Lowest |
1,208Highest |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8Lowest 17% above U.S. |
55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
46.4±8 19% above U.S. |
| Washington 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% |
13.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Washington 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% |
29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32%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% |
4.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$89,453±$12kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$83,462±$18k 3% above U.S. |
| Washington 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. |
$358,600±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$271,300±$19k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
$1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
$1,200±$327Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$4,321Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,823 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington 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.