Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville 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
Vacaville
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $240k less ($320,600 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $858/mo less ($1,283 vs $2,141)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Smaller class sizes — 20.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $32,937/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 5.4%)
Vacaville, CA
Pros
47% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Households earn $32,937 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 26.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Longer commutes — 28.9 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 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$240k less
$320,600 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$32,937
$106,764 vs $73,827/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
47% lower
293.2 vs 554.6 per 100k
Vacaville
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 13 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 10 and Vacaville 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $560,400 median home), income ($73,827 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Vacaville, CA are about 263 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.