Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Bakersfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Households earn $16,673 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $320,600
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
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $107k less ($213,300 vs $320,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Bakersfield
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bakersfield by $16,673/yr
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Income
$16,673
$73,827 vs $57,154/yr
Bakersfield
Violent Crime
26% lower
554.6 vs 752.4 per 100k
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$107k less
$213,300 vs $320,600
Portsmouth
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 13 and Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $213,300 median home), income ($73,827 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Portsmouth, VA are about 2,365 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.