Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Cary, NC
🏆 Cary leads 15 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Cary
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $157k less ($320,600 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $255/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,538)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 51°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $51,490/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 3.4%)
Cary, NC
Pros
87% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Households earn $51,490 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$157k less
$320,600 vs $477,400
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 89.0°F
Cary
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$51,490
$125,317 vs $73,827/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
87% lower
71.0 vs 554.6 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Cary, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $477,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,538⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $125,317 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 19 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 70.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 96.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 50.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 89.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 4.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 174,880 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 39.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 66.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Cary's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Cary is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 15 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 8 and Cary 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 Bakersfield to Cary or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $477,400 median home), income ($73,827 vs $125,317), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Cary, NC are about 2,244 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.