Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Jurupa Valley, CA
🏆 Bakersfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Jurupa Valley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,562 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
105,672
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($320,600 vs $481,500)
Rent averages $335/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,618)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 23.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Jurupa Valley
Smaller class sizes — 20.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Jurupa Valley by $17,735/yr
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Jurupa Valley, CA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Households earn $17,735 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $481,500
Higher rents — median is $1,618/mo
Property crime (2518.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$161k less
$320,600 vs $481,500
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 93.3°F
Jurupa Valley
Median Income
$17,735
$91,562 vs $73,827/yr
Jurupa Valley
Violent Crime
67% lower
184.3 vs 554.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Jurupa Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $481,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,618⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $91,562 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | C (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 14.6% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% ✓ Higher | 71.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Jurupa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 93.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 12.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 105,672 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 69.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 25.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Jurupa Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 13 and Jurupa Valley 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 Jurupa Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $481,500 median home), income ($73,827 vs $91,562), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Jurupa Valley, CA are about 129 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.