Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Inglewood, CA
🏆 Bakersfield leads 17 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Inglewood
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,563
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
106,806
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $369k less ($320,600 vs $689,700)
18% less violent crime than Inglewood
Rent averages $383/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,666)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (7.1%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Inglewood
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
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
Inglewood, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 97°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $689,700
Violent crime (674.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,666/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Income
$6,264
$73,827 vs $67,563/yr
Bakersfield
Violent Crime
18% lower
554.6 vs 674.6 per 100k
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$369k less
$320,600 vs $689,700
Bakersfield
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
7.1% vs 8.2% unemployment
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
20.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Inglewood, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $689,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,666⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $67,563 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 172⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | C (79) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 22.8% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% ✓ Higher | 77.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Inglewood Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 11.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 106,806 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Inglewood's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 17 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 17 and Inglewood wins 6. 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 Inglewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $689,700 median home), income ($73,827 vs $67,563), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Inglewood, CA are about 104 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.