Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Elk Grove, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 13 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Elk Grove
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $240k less ($320,600 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $793/mo less ($1,283 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Smaller class sizes — 20.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $42,037/yr
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
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
66% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Households earn $42,037 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.4%)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Bakersfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$240k less
$320,600 vs $560,500
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 92.6°F
Elk Grove
Median Income
$42,037
$115,864 vs $73,827/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
66% lower
189.9 vs 554.6 per 100k
Elk Grove
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.4% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Elk Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $2,076⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $115,864 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Elk Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 18.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 176,105 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 38.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 73.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 25.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Elk Grove's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 13 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 10 and Elk Grove wins 13. 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 Elk Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $560,500 median home), income ($73,827 vs $115,864), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Elk Grove, CA are about 248 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.