Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Cincinnati, OH
🏆 Cincinnati leads 12 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Cincinnati
Ohio
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,636 more per year on average
34% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 41°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $320,600
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
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($192,000 vs $320,600)
Rent averages $390/mo less ($893 vs $1,283)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Bakersfield
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
Cons
Median income trails Bakersfield by $24,636/yr
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Income
$24,636
$73,827 vs $49,191/yr
Bakersfield
Violent Crime
34% lower
554.6 vs 845.6 per 100k
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 86.6°F
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$129k less
$192,000 vs $320,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Cincinnati, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $192,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 | $893 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $49,191 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 223⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Cincinnati Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 16.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 308,870 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Cincinnati's 94.1 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cincinnati leads 12 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 11 and Cincinnati wins 12. 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 Cincinnati or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $192,000 median home), income ($73,827 vs $49,191), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Cincinnati, OH are about 1,906 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.