Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Bakersfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
404,321
Fresno
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (7.1%)
Households earn $10,826 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
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
Fresno, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bakersfield by $10,826/yr
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 7.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Income
$10,826
$73,827 vs $63,001/yr
Bakersfield
Violent Crime
25% lower
554.6 vs 735.5 per 100k
Bakersfield
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
7.1% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $321,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $63,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 8.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 55.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 11.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 | 541,528 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 32.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 27.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 11.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 12 and Fresno wins 11. 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 Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $321,800 median home), income ($73,827 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Fresno, CA are about 107 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.