Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Fishers, IN
🏆 Fishers leads 14 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Fishers
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$126,548 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
99,041
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Rent averages $195/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,478)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 35°F
Homes cost $18k less ($320,600 vs $339,000)
Cons
Median income trails Fishers by $52,721/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
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 2.5%)
Fishers, IN
Pros
87% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Households earn $52,721 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (2.5%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (72.9 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,478/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $339,000
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$18k less
$320,600 vs $339,000
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 84.4°F
Fishers
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Fishers
Median Income
$52,721
$126,548 vs $73,827/yr
Fishers
Violent Crime
87% lower
72.9 vs 554.6 per 100k
Fishers
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
2.5% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Fishers, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $339,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,478⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $126,548 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 2.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 18.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 19 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 98.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Hamilton Southeastern Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 26.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 99,041 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 77.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 27.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 10.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Fishers's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Fishers is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fishers leads 14 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 9 and Fishers wins 14. 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 Fishers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $339,000 median home), income ($73,827 vs $126,548), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Fishers, IN are about 1,826 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.