Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Bakersfield
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,093 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (7.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 23.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $320,600
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $77k less ($243,300 vs $320,600)
Rent averages $269/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,283)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bakersfield by $18,093/yr
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 7.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Income
$18,093
$73,827 vs $55,734/yr
Bakersfield
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
7.1% vs 8.1% unemployment
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 88.3°F
Yakima
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Violent Crime
2% lower
544.3 vs 554.6 per 100k
Yakima
Median Home Value
$77k less
$243,300 vs $320,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | C (79) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" | 8.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 27.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Bakersfield wins 11 and Yakima wins 11. 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $243,300 median home), income ($73,827 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Yakima, WA are about 780 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.