Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Bakersfield, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845
Bakersfield
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827
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.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $63,560 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Bakersfield
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $513k less ($320,600 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $944/mo less ($1,283 vs $2,227)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $63,560/yr
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
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$63,560
$137,387 vs $73,827/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
54% lower
254.4 vs 554.6 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
2.8% vs 7.1% unemployment
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$513k less
$320,600 vs $833,300
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Bakersfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,283 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $73,827 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 81.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Bakersfield City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 | 404,321 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 29.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Bakersfield's 102.2 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Bakersfield wins 11. 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 Arlington to Bakersfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $320,600 median home), income ($137,387 vs $73,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Bakersfield, CA are about 2,303 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.