Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Kansas City, KS
🏆 Bakersfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Kansas City
Kansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
47% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $17,707 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 23.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 6.0%)
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $187k less ($133,800 vs $320,600)
Rent averages $239/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,283)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.0%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Bakersfield
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bakersfield by $17,707/yr
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Income
$17,707
$73,827 vs $56,120/yr
Bakersfield
Violent Crime
47% lower
554.6 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 90.2°F
Kansas City
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$187k less
$133,800 vs $320,600
Kansas City
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.0% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Kansas City, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $133,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 | $1,044 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $56,120 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 276⚠ 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 (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% ✓ Higher | 80.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Kansas City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 38.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 11.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 155,438 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 59.5% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 27.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 13 and Kansas City 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 Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $133,800 median home), income ($73,827 vs $56,120), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Kansas City, KS are about 1,357 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.