Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Bakersfield leads 18 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Modesto
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
15% less violent crime than Modesto
Homes cost $61k less ($320,600 vs $381,800)
Rent averages $214/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,497)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (7.1%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 23.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Modesto, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 7.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Violent Crime
15% lower
554.6 vs 655.7 per 100k
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$61k less
$320,600 vs $381,800
Bakersfield
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
7.1% vs 7.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 83.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 12.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 218,308 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 26.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 18 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 18 and Modesto wins 5. 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 Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $381,800 median home), income ($73,827 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Modesto, CA are about 192 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.