Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Santa Clara leads 13 of 22 categories
Bakersfield
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Santa Clara
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $1120k less ($320,600 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1558/mo less ($1,283 vs $2,841)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $91,525/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 4.2%)
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $91,525 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Bakersfield
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Property crime (2501.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$1120k less
$320,600 vs $1,440,200
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
16.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$91,525
$165,352 vs $73,827/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
67% lower
182.0 vs 554.6 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 15.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 128,058 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Clara leads 13 of 22 categories. Bakersfield wins 9 and Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($73,827 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Santa Clara, CA are about 214 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.