What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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	Webster	Bakersfield
People
Population	2,227Highest	1,109Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S.	46.4±8Highest 19% above U.S.
	Bakersfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22%	13.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bakersfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bakersfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S.	$83,462±$18kLowest 3% above U.S.
	Webster and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average	$271,300±$19kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average	$1,200±$327Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Webster and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,021Highest 93% above U.S.	$3,823Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1%	18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster 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 U.S.: 12.5%	7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	94%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Webster and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Merrimack Valley 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.