Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Longmont, CO
🏆 Longmont leads 12 of 23 categories
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
Longmont
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($320,600 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $406/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,689)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Longmont by $15,893/yr
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.1%)
Longmont, CO
Pros
15% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $15,893 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$168k less
$320,600 vs $488,100
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 90.8°F
Longmont
Median Income
$15,893
$89,720 vs $73,827/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
15% lower
469.3 vs 554.6 per 100k
Longmont
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Longmont, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $488,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,689⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $89,720 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 17.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 44.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 90.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 47.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 98,282 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 20.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Longmont's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 12 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 11 and Longmont wins 12. 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 Longmont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $488,100 median home), income ($73,827 vs $89,720), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Longmont, CO are about 830 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.