Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Bakersfield, CA
🏆 Bakersfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349
Bakersfield
California
13
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.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 97°F
Households earn $4,858 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Aurora
Rent averages $368/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,651)
Homes cost $89k less ($320,600 vs $409,700)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
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
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.5%)
Median income trails Aurora by $4,858/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$4,858
$78,685 vs $73,827/yr
Aurora
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.1% unemployment
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Violent Crime
41% lower
554.6 vs 947.8 per 100k
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$89k less
$320,600 vs $409,700
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 90.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, 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 | $409,700⚠ High | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,283 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $73,827 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 81.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Bakersfield City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 | 404,321 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 60.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 29.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora'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, Bakersfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Aurora 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 Aurora to Bakersfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $320,600 median home), income ($78,685 vs $73,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Bakersfield, CA are about 839 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.