What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newcomb has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Bakersfield has the most kids (13.6% under 18).

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	Newcomb	Bakersfield
People
Population	490Lowest	1,109Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.7% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	59.1±10.1Highest 52% above U.S.	46.4±8Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Newcomb and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	9.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	13.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bakersfield and Newcomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Newcomb and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.3%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newcomb and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,750±$25kHighest 35% above U.S.	$83,462±$18kLowest 3% above U.S.
	Newcomb and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,800±$47kLowest 23% below U.S.	$271,300±$19kHighest 18% below U.S.
	Bakersfield and Newcomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,200±$327 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,488Lowest 52% below U.S.	$3,823Highest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	18.8%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bakersfield and Newcomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	10.2%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bakersfield and Newcomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school 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.