Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Metairie leads 17 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Metairie
Louisiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
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
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Metairie
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.3%)
Metairie, LA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $163/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,283)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Bakersfield
Homes cost $31k less ($289,800 vs $320,600)
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Income
$1,757
$73,827 vs $72,070/yr
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 91.4°F
Metairie
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Violent Crime
30% lower
390.1 vs 554.6 per 100k
Metairie
Median Home Value
$31k less
$289,800 vs $320,600
Metairie
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $289,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 | $1,120 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $72,070 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 103⚠ 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 (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 39.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 91.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 140,046 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 17 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 6 and Metairie wins 17. 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 Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $289,800 median home), income ($73,827 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Metairie, LA are about 1,712 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.