Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Fayetteville, AR
🏆 Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Fayetteville
Arkansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,022
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,946 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°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
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fayetteville
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.3%)
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $339/mo less ($944 vs $1,283)
24% less violent crime than Bakersfield
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Bakersfield
Cons
Median income trails Bakersfield by $16,946/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Income
$16,946
$73,827 vs $56,881/yr
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 88.7°F
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
24% lower
423.7 vs 554.6 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$29k less
$291,300 vs $320,600
Fayetteville
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Fayetteville, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $291,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 | $944 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $56,881 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 12.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 95.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 46.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 46.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 6.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 95,022 |
| Median Age | 31.5 ✓ Older | 28.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Fayetteville's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 10 and Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $291,300 median home), income ($73,827 vs $56,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Fayetteville, AR are about 1,392 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.