Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
North Las Vegas, NV
🏆 North Las Vegas leads 14 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
North Las Vegas
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,774
Violent Crime Index
102⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
264,022
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (7.1%)
Rent averages $196/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,479)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 23.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 97°F vs 106°F
Homes cost $20k less ($320,600 vs $340,200)
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
North Las Vegas, NV
Pros
30% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,479/mo
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 7.1%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Income
$2,053
$73,827 vs $71,774/yr
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$20k less
$320,600 vs $340,200
Bakersfield
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
7.1% vs 8.4% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.2 on the COL index
North Las Vegas
Violent Crime
30% lower
388.9 vs 554.6 per 100k
North Las Vegas
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 105.7°F vs 97.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | North Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 101.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $340,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,479⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $71,774 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | C (82) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 17.8% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 81.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 60.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F | 105.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" | 4.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 264,022 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 61.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 26.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 11.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs North Las Vegas's 101.9 (US average = 100).
North Las Vegas is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, North Las Vegas leads 14 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 9 and North Las Vegas wins 14. 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 North Las Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $340,200 median home), income ($73,827 vs $71,774), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and North Las Vegas, NV are about 230 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.