Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise 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
Surprise
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Rent averages $539/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,822)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Homes cost $32k less ($320,600 vs $352,600)
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 Surprise by $13,929/yr
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.6%)
Surprise, AZ
Pros
80% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $13,929 more per year on average
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$32k less
$320,600 vs $352,600
Surprise
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$13,929
$87,756 vs $73,827/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
80% lower
109.1 vs 554.6 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.1% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 97.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 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 | 9.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 17 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 6 and Surprise 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $352,600 median home), income ($73,827 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Surprise, AZ are about 392 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.