Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Bakersfield, CA
🏆 Bakersfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Bakersfield
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $107k less ($213,400 vs $320,600)
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $153/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,283)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bakersfield by $19,091/yr
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 7.1%)
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
32% less violent crime than Albany
Households earn $19,091 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (7.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $320,600
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$107k less
$213,400 vs $320,600
Bakersfield
Median Income
$19,091
$73,827 vs $54,736/yr
Bakersfield
Violent Crime
32% lower
554.6 vs 816.9 per 100k
Bakersfield
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
7.1% vs 8.0% unemployment
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Bakersfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $320,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,283 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $73,827 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 81.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Bakersfield City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 404,321 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 29.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Bakersfield's 102.2 (US average = 100).
Albany is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Albany wins 11 and Bakersfield wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Bakersfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $320,600 median home), income ($54,736 vs $73,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Bakersfield, CA are about 2,451 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.