What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).

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	Lowell	Bakersfield
People
Population	1,070Lowest	1,109Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT	46.4±8Highest 8% above VT
	Bakersfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9%	13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%	39.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7%	7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7%
	Bakersfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT	$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average
	Bakersfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT	$271,300±$19kHighest 14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT	$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average
	Bakersfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,810Lowest 44% below VT	$3,823Highest 24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.3%±92.9Highest VT: 48.4%	18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Lowell and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest VT: 10.1%	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	94%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT	1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	55 minHighest 135% above VT	33 minLowest 40% above VT
Work from home	7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Bakersfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lowell 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 Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT 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.