Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Bakersfield leads 14 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Lakewood
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $174k less ($320,600 vs $494,100)
30% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $382/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,665)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
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
Median income trails Lakewood by $8,959/yr
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.4%)
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,959 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Violent Crime
30% lower
554.6 vs 787.2 per 100k
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$174k less
$320,600 vs $494,100
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 85.9°F
Lakewood
Median Income
$8,959
$82,786 vs $73,827/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 17.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 58.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 14 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 14 and Lakewood wins 9. 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 Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $494,100 median home), income ($73,827 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Lakewood, CO are about 819 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.