Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Bakersfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
404,321
Portland
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($320,600 vs $523,100)
23% less violent crime than Portland
Rent averages $247/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,530)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Cons
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Portland by $12,049/yr
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.6%)
Portland, OR
Pros
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $12,049 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Violent Crime
23% lower
554.6 vs 720.1 per 100k
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$203k less
$320,600 vs $523,100
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
17.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$12,049
$85,876 vs $73,827/yr
Portland
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 13 and Portland wins 10. 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $523,100 median home), income ($73,827 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Portland, OR are about 729 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.