Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Glendale, AZ
🏆 Glendale leads 15 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Glendale
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,452 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 97°F vs 105°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
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.7%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Glendale
Glendale, AZ
Pros
12% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Bakersfield
Cons
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Bakersfield by $7,452/yr
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Income
$7,452
$73,827 vs $66,375/yr
Glendale
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Violent Crime
12% lower
488.4 vs 554.6 per 100k
Glendale
Median Home Value
$11k less
$310,000 vs $320,600
Glendale
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.1% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 97.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Glendale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 | $1,268 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $66,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 22.6% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 84.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" | 8.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 248,083 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 57.2% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 25.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Glendale's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 15 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 8 and Glendale wins 15. 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 Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $310,000 median home), income ($73,827 vs $66,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Glendale, AZ are about 410 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.