Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Orlando, FL
🏆 Bakersfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Orlando
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
34% less violent crime than Orlando
Rent averages $226/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,509)
Households earn $7,535 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
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
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.2%)
Orlando, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 58°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,509/mo
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Bakersfield by $7,535/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Income
$7,535
$73,827 vs $66,292/yr
Bakersfield
Violent Crime
34% lower
554.6 vs 835.8 per 100k
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$12k less
$320,600 vs $332,700
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 92.0°F
Orlando
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Orlando
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Orlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $332,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,509⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $66,292 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 209⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | ORANGE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 92.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 307,738 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 10.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Orlando's 101.1 (US average = 100).
Orlando is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 12 and Orlando 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 Orlando or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $332,700 median home), income ($73,827 vs $66,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Orlando, FL are about 2,254 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.