Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Bakersfield, CA
🏆 Arvada leads 12 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
49% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Households earn $32,187 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $232k less ($320,600 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $423/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,706)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $32,187/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 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$32,187
$106,014 vs $73,827/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
49% lower
285.6 vs 554.6 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.1% unemployment
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$232k less
$320,600 vs $553,000
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Bakersfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,283 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $73,827 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 118⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 81.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Bakersfield City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 404,321 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 60.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 29.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Bakersfield's 102.2 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 12 of 23 categories. Arvada 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 Arvada to Bakersfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $320,600 median home), income ($106,014 vs $73,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Bakersfield, CA are about 820 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.