Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Bakersfield leads 14 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $457k less ($320,600 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $694/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,977)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 20.4:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Median income trails Westminster by $6,444/yr
Westminster, CA
Pros
21% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 97°F
Households earn $6,444 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/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
$457k less
$320,600 vs $777,100
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
14.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$6,444
$80,271 vs $73,827/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
21% lower
436.2 vs 554.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Westminster, 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 | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 26.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 14 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 14 and Westminster 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $777,100 median home), income ($73,827 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Westminster, CA are about 126 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.