Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Fort Worth, TX
🏆 Fort Worth leads 12 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321
Fort Worth
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $320,600
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.3%)
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
17% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Homes cost $70k less ($250,300 vs $320,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Income
$1,101
$73,827 vs $72,726/yr
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
17% lower
458.4 vs 554.6 per 100k
Fort Worth
Median Home Value
$70k less
$250,300 vs $320,600
Fort Worth
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Fort Worth, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $250,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,313 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $72,726 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 10.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 84.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | FORT WORTH ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 96.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 2.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 | 924,663 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 33.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 56.7% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 26.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Fort Worth's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 12 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 11 and Fort Worth wins 12. 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 Fort Worth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $250,300 median home), income ($73,827 vs $72,726), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Fort Worth, TX are about 1,251 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.