Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 West Covina leads 14 of 23 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
West Covina
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $344k less ($320,600 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $771/mo less ($1,283 vs $2,054)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Cons
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails West Covina by $22,392/yr
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
West Covina, CA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Households earn $22,392 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 29.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Bakersfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$344k less
$320,600 vs $664,500
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 90.3°F
West Covina
Median Income
$22,392
$96,219 vs $73,827/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
57% lower
239.3 vs 554.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 29.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Covina leads 14 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 9 and West Covina wins 14. 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $664,500 median home), income ($73,827 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and West Covina, CA are about 110 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.