What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

Bakersfield has the most affordable homes ($271k median).

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	Newfields	Bakersfield
People
Population	2,023Highest	1,109Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S.	46.4±8Highest 19% above U.S.
	Bakersfield and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%	13.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.	$83,462±$18kLowest 3% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.	$271,300±$19kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S.	$1,200±$327Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,823Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newfields and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	94%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Newfields 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

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.