Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Bakersfield leads 16 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Elizabeth
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $13,888 more per year on average
Homes cost $38k less ($320,600 vs $358,400)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 23.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
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 5.9%)
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
26% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bakersfield by $13,888/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Income
$13,888
$73,827 vs $59,939/yr
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$38k less
$320,600 vs $358,400
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 86.9°F
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
26% lower
408.7 vs 554.6 per 100k
Elizabeth
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Elizabeth, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $358,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,390⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $59,939 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 4.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 31.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 135,665 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 16 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 16 and Elizabeth wins 7. 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 Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $358,400 median home), income ($73,827 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Elizabeth, NJ are about 2,442 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.