Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 17 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Rent averages $355/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,638)
Homes cost $63k less ($320,600 vs $383,600)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 97°F vs 105°F
Cons
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Peoria by $12,932/yr
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 3.9%)
Peoria, AZ
Pros
54% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,932 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$63k less
$320,600 vs $383,600
Peoria
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Income
$12,932
$86,759 vs $73,827/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
54% lower
254.7 vs 554.6 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.1% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 97.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $383,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,638⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 34.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 10.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 191,292 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 17 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 6 and Peoria wins 17. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $383,600 median home), income ($73,827 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Peoria, AZ are about 398 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.