Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Antioch, CA
VS
Bakersfield, CA
🏆 Bakersfield leads 15 of 23 categories
Antioch
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,709 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
115,016
Bakersfield
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827
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.
Antioch, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,882 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $570,900
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $250k less ($320,600 vs $570,900)
Rent averages $867/mo less ($1,283 vs $2,150)
Commutes run 21 min shorter each way
9% less violent crime than Antioch
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Antioch
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (7.1%)
Cons
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Antioch by $16,882/yr
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Antioch
Median Income
$16,882
$90,709 vs $73,827/yr
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Violent Crime
9% lower
554.6 vs 606.8 per 100k
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$250k less
$320,600 vs $570,900
Bakersfield
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
7.1% vs 7.9% unemployment
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 91.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Antioch, CA | Bakersfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $570,900⚠ High | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,150⚠ High | $1,283 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,709 ✓ Higher | $73,827 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 44.9 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 152⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.5:1 | 20.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 23.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% ✓ Higher | 81.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Antioch Unified | Bakersfield City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.7°F | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.6" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,016 | 404,321 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.5% ✓ Higher | 60.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | 29.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Antioch's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Bakersfield's 102.2 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 15 of 23 categories. Antioch wins 8 and Bakersfield wins 15. 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 Antioch to Bakersfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($570,900 vs $320,600 median home), income ($90,709 vs $73,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Antioch, CA and Bakersfield, CA are about 237 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.