Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Chicago, IL
🏆 Bakersfield leads 13 of 23 categories
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
Chicago
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (7.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 32°F
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
Pricier housing — median home is $320,600
Chicago, IL
Pros
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 97°F
Homes cost $16k less ($304,500 vs $320,600)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 7.1%)
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Income
$2,154
$73,827 vs $71,673/yr
Bakersfield
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
7.1% vs 8.2% unemployment
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 81.0°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.2 on the COL index
Chicago
Violent Crime
3% lower
539.8 vs 554.6 per 100k
Chicago
Median Home Value
$16k less
$304,500 vs $320,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Chicago, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $304,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,314 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $71,673 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 34.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 15.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 86.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 34.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 38.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 35.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 45.6% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Chicago's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 13 and Chicago wins 10. 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 Chicago or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $304,500 median home), income ($73,827 vs $71,673), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Chicago, IL are about 1,741 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.