Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Bakersfield, CA
🏆 Bakersfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,076
Bakersfield
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
7% less violent crime than Bakersfield
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bakersfield by $9,348/yr
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 7.1%)
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($320,600 vs $466,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (7.1%)
Households earn $9,348 more per year on average
Rent averages $102/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,385)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Smaller class sizes — 20.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Violent Crime
7% lower
518.1 vs 554.6 per 100k
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Income
$9,348
$73,827 vs $64,479/yr
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$146k less
$320,600 vs $466,300
Bakersfield
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
7.1% vs 8.1% unemployment
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 94.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Bakersfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,283 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $73,827 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 20.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 81.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Bakersfield City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 404,321 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 29.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Bakersfield's 102.2 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 10 and Bakersfield wins 13. 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 Arden-Arcade to Bakersfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $320,600 median home), income ($64,479 vs $73,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Bakersfield, CA are about 259 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.