Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
East Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Bakersfield leads 15 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
East Los Angeles
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High
Population
117,222
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $262k less ($320,600 vs $582,400)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Households earn $9,708 more per year on average
More college-educated — 23.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $86/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,369)
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 6.3%)
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 97°F
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Bakersfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Income
$9,708
$73,827 vs $64,119/yr
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$262k less
$320,600 vs $582,400
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 82.0°F
East Los Angeles
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | East Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $582,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,369⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $64,119 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 11.0% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% ✓ Higher | 55.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 14.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 117,222 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 33.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 34.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 10.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs East Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 15 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 15 and East Los Angeles wins 8. 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 East Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $582,400 median home), income ($73,827 vs $64,119), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and East Los Angeles, CA are about 104 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.