Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Bakersfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Jackson
Mississippi
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,634 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (7.1%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $320,600
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
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Jackson
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $216k less ($104,900 vs $320,600)
Rent averages $303/mo less ($980 vs $1,283)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Bakersfield
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Bakersfield by $31,634/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 7.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Income
$31,634
$73,827 vs $42,193/yr
Bakersfield
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
7.1% vs 9.3% unemployment
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 92.1°F
Jackson
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$216k less
$104,900 vs $320,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 87.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 57.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 153,271 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Bakersfield wins 10 and Jackson 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 Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $104,900 median home), income ($73,827 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Jackson, MS are about 1,662 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.