Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Victorville, CA
🏆 Bakersfield leads 14 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Victorville
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,746
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
134,417
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
45% less violent crime than Victorville
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (7.1%)
Rent averages $178/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,461)
More college-educated — 23.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,081 more per year on average
Cons
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
Pricier housing — median home is $320,600
Victorville, CA
Pros
Homes cost $20k less ($300,600 vs $320,600)
Cons
Violent crime (1015.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,461/mo
Median income trails Bakersfield by $8,081/yr
Higher unemployment (10.3% vs 7.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Income
$8,081
$73,827 vs $65,746/yr
Bakersfield
Violent Crime
45% lower
554.6 vs 1015.6 per 100k
Bakersfield
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
7.1% vs 10.3% unemployment
Victorville
Median Home Value
$20k less
$300,600 vs $320,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Victorville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $300,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,461⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $65,746 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 40.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% ✓ Higher | 77.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Victor Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" | 5.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 134,417 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 31.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 59.7% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% | 30.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.5% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Victorville's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 14 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 14 and Victorville 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 Victorville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $300,600 median home), income ($73,827 vs $65,746), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Victorville, CA are about 111 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.