Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Bakersfield leads 14 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Toledo
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,422 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Toledo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (7.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 23.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 12% higher than Toledo
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $222k less ($98,800 vs $320,600)
Rent averages $429/mo less ($854 vs $1,283)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Bakersfield
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 97°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cons
Median income trails Bakersfield by $28,422/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 7.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Income
$28,422
$73,827 vs $45,405/yr
Bakersfield
Violent Crime
47% lower
554.6 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Bakersfield
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
7.1% vs 8.2% unemployment
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 84.6°F
Toledo
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$222k less
$98,800 vs $320,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | C+ (86) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 269,962 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 14 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 14 and Toledo wins 9. 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $98,800 median home), income ($73,827 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Toledo, OH are about 1,951 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.