Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Gresham, OR
🏆 Bakersfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Gresham
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($320,600 vs $411,700)
Rent averages $169/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,452)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
Households earn $4,390 more per year on average
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
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 5.8%)
Gresham, OR
Pros
26% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Median income trails Bakersfield by $4,390/yr
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Bakersfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Income
$4,390
$73,827 vs $69,437/yr
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$91k less
$320,600 vs $411,700
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
15.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 81.6°F
Gresham
Violent Crime
26% lower
410.2 vs 554.6 per 100k
Gresham
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Gresham, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $411,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,452⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $69,437 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | C (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 23.2% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 46.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 113,525 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 55.3% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Gresham's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 13 and Gresham wins 10. 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 Gresham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $411,700 median home), income ($73,827 vs $69,437), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Gresham, OR are about 724 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.