Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 14 of 22 categories
Bakersfield
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Laredo
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,899 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $320,600
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Laredo
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $156k less ($164,400 vs $320,600)
34% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Rent averages $315/mo less ($968 vs $1,283)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.9%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Bakersfield
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails Bakersfield by $12,899/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Income
$12,899
$73,827 vs $60,928/yr
Laredo
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
34% lower
365.8 vs 554.6 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$156k less
$164,400 vs $320,600
Laredo
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | C (82) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 19.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 255,293 |
| Median Age | 31.5 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.5% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Laredo leads 14 of 22 categories. Bakersfield wins 8 and Laredo wins 14. 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 Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $164,400 median home), income ($73,827 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Laredo, TX are about 1,269 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.