Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Norwalk leads 12 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($320,600 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $578/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,861)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Norwalk by $24,052/yr
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.9%)
Norwalk, CT
Pros
85% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Households earn $24,052 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.9%)
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Bakersfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$171k less
$320,600 vs $491,800
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 84.8°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$24,052
$97,879 vs $73,827/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
85% lower
85.0 vs 554.6 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 42.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 12 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 11 and Norwalk wins 12. 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 $491,800 median home), income ($73,827 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Norwalk, CT are about 2,479 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.