Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 16 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,515 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (7.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 97°F vs 107°F
More college-educated — 23.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $320,600
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
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($186,500 vs $320,600)
24% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Rent averages $255/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,283)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Bakersfield
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Bakersfield by $14,515/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Income
$14,515
$73,827 vs $59,312/yr
Bakersfield
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
7.1% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Violent Crime
24% lower
423.6 vs 554.6 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$134k less
$186,500 vs $320,600
Yuma
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 97.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 83.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 32.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 16 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 7 and Yuma wins 16. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $186,500 median home), income ($73,827 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Yuma, AZ are about 325 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.