Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Evansville, IN
🏆 Bakersfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Evansville
Indiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Evansville
Households earn $23,974 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $320,600
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Evansville
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($121,100 vs $320,600)
Rent averages $366/mo less ($917 vs $1,283)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.7%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Bakersfield
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Bakersfield by $23,974/yr
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Income
$23,974
$73,827 vs $49,853/yr
Bakersfield
Violent Crime
54% lower
554.6 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 89.0°F
Evansville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$200k less
$121,100 vs $320,600
Evansville
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Evansville, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $121,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $49,853 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 317⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 89.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 89.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 10.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 116,906 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 54.2% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 21.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Evansville's 89.8 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 13 and Evansville wins 10. 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 Evansville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $121,100 median home), income ($73,827 vs $49,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Evansville, IN are about 1,747 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.