Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Denton, TX
🏆 Denton leads 12 of 22 categories
Bakersfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Denton
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
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 4.8%)
Pricier housing — median home is $320,600
Denton, TX
Pros
63% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $25k less ($296,100 vs $320,600)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Income
$1,906
$73,827 vs $71,921/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
63% lower
204.2 vs 554.6 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$25k less
$296,100 vs $320,600
Denton
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Denton, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $296,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 | $1,264 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $71,921 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | DENTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 55.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 95.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 38.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 142,262 |
| Median Age | 31.5 ✓ Older | 30.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Denton's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Denton leads 12 of 22 categories. Bakersfield wins 10 and Denton 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 Denton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $296,100 median home), income ($73,827 vs $71,921), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Denton, TX are about 1,256 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.