Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Durham, NC
🏆 Durham leads 12 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Durham
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
10% less violent crime than Durham
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 49°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
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.3%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Durham
Durham, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Bakersfield
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Violent Crime
10% lower
554.6 vs 619.2 per 100k
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 87.0°F
Durham
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Income
$883
$74,710 vs $73,827/yr
Durham
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Durham, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,296 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $74,710 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 17.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Durham Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 87.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 5.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 284,094 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 52.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 12.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Durham's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Durham is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 12 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 11 and Durham 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 Durham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $316,600 median home), income ($73,827 vs $74,710), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Durham, NC are about 2,237 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.