What stands out worked out from the figures below

Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).

Bakersfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).

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	Unity	Bakersfield
People
Population	1,375Highest	1,109Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S.	46.4±8Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Unity and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	13.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bakersfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.	$83,462±$18kLowest 3% above U.S.
	Unity and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S.	$271,300±$19kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Unity and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,200±$327Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Unity and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,394Highest 73% above U.S.	$3,823Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Unity and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	94%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1982 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bakersfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Unity 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.