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Patterson vs Shafter

175 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (21.3× in Shafter) and street grid (5.9× in Patterson).

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Patterson, CAAn outdoors townCalifornia · 24,693 people
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Shafter, CAHomes around $387KCalifornia · 21,193 people
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $770 more a month in Patterson

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Patterson$3,050/mo
Typical home $502K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.99% · or rent about $1,655/mo · Housing →
Shafter$2,280/mo
Typical home $387K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.78% · or rent about $1,253/mo · Housing →

The difference: $770 a month, about $9,200 a year, between Patterson and Shafter.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Patterson places higher on 15 of 23 CA lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
PattersonShafter
Snow a year0″0″
January low42°F41°F
July high93°F98°F
Growing season (days)351d334d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)60th56th
Outdoors & history
PattersonShafter
Trails3 mi73 mi
Conserved land1.8%0.2%
Settled19091938
National Register places23
Archive photos717
Famous people born here32
Community
PattersonShafter
Library hours a week30 hrs55 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

175 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Patterson ↔ Shafter175 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

PattersonShafter
People
Population 24,693Highest 21,193Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +16.5%Lowest CA: +6.1% +17.5%Highest CA: +6.1%
Median age 30.9±1.6Highest 18% below CA 28.1±1.1Lowest 26% below CA
Kids under 18 32.7%±3.4Lowest CA: 22% 33.5%±3.4Highest CA: 22%
Shafter and Patterson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 10.2%±1.5Highest CA: 15.7% 7.5%±1.5Lowest CA: 15.7%
Patterson and Shafter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 13.6%Highest CA: 37.1% 12.2%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 6.2%±1.3Lowest CA: 7.6% 6.7%±1.7Highest CA: 7.6%
Shafter and Patterson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $93,650±$15kHighest 6% below CA $71,215±$7kLowest 28% below CA
Patterson and Shafter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $450,200±$20kHighest 39% below CA $335,800±$20kLowest 54% below CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,655±$250Highest 19% below CA $1,253±$150Lowest 38% below CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $4,465Highest 13% below CA $2,634Lowest 49% below CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 40.6%±10.6Lowest CA: 55.3% 49.6%±11.5Highest CA: 55.3%
Shafter and Patterson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 9%Lowest CA: 12% 20.7%Highest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 71.3%Highest CA: 55.9% 64.7%Lowest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 2000Highest 24 yrs newer than CA 1993Lowest 17 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 42 minHighest 45% above CA 23 minLowest 19% below CA
Work from home 11.3%±4.3Highest CA: 17.2% 4.4%±1.7Lowest CA: 17.2%
Work in townworking residents 15.7%Lowest 17.3%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 35.3 miHighest 15.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.74Lowest 1.66Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Modesto (6%)Bakersfield (23%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ShafterFew work in Patterson
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.8%Highest 0.2%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 3.4 miLowest 72.5 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.4 miLowest 1.9 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 22Highest 12Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 115Highest 19.5Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #184 of 574 in CA#403 of 574 in CA
School district Patterson Joint UnifiedGrow Academy Shafter District · Kern High
High school in town Patterson HighShafter High
Students per teacherat that high school 20.8Lowest 21.7Highest
California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Patterson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Patterson’s Town Square.

Shafter neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Shafter’s Town Square.

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Towns like Patterson

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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