Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 13 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Naperville
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
149,089
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $162k less ($320,600 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $504/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 33°F
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $69,927/yr
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 4.5%)
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $69,927 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Bakersfield
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$162k less
$320,600 vs $482,600
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 85.5°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.2 on the COL index
Naperville
Median Income
$69,927
$143,754 vs $73,827/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
85% lower
83.7 vs 554.6 per 100k
Naperville
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 149,089 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 13 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 10 and Naperville wins 13. 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 Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $482,600 median home), income ($73,827 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Naperville, IL are about 1,716 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.