Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Bakersfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $273k less ($320,600 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $577/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,860)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 23.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 20.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Norwalk by $17,432/yr
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.6%)
Norwalk, CA
Pros
32% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Households earn $17,432 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Bakersfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$273k less
$320,600 vs $593,100
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 84.4°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$17,432
$91,259 vs $73,827/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
32% lower
374.4 vs 554.6 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 99 ✓ 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+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 15.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 101,893 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 12 and Norwalk wins 11. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $593,100 median home), income ($73,827 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Norwalk, CA are about 114 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.