Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 13 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Roseville
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $276k less ($320,600 vs $596,700)
Rent averages $657/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,940)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Roseville
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $38,438/yr
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 4.5%)
Roseville, CA
Pros
60% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Households earn $38,438 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Bakersfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$276k less
$320,600 vs $596,700
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 93.6°F
Roseville
Median Income
$38,438
$112,265 vs $73,827/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
60% lower
219.2 vs 554.6 per 100k
Roseville
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 55.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 93.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 20.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 148,879 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roseville leads 13 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 10 and Roseville wins 13. 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $596,700 median home), income ($73,827 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Roseville, CA are about 268 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.