Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Lewisville, TX
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Bakersfield
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Lewisville
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,006 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
125,028
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Rent averages $172/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,455)
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
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 3.8%)
Median income trails Lewisville by $8,179/yr
Lewisville, TX
Pros
66% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (187.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,179 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,455/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Lewisville
Median Income
$8,179
$82,006 vs $73,827/yr
Lewisville
Violent Crime
66% lower
187.4 vs 554.6 per 100k
Lewisville
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Lewisville, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $328,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,455⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $82,006 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 13.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 40.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | LEWISVILLE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 55.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 95.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 36.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 125,028 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 34.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 45.2% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 23.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Lewisville's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Bakersfield wins 11 and Lewisville wins 11. 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 Lewisville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $328,300 median home), income ($73,827 vs $82,006), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Lewisville, TX are about 1,268 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.