Bakersfield, California
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Bakersfield, CA.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Bakersfield, CA?
For relocators asking how much Bakersfield costs: the housing index sits at 108 versus 100 nationally, with homes near $347,300 and rents near $1,371. Local median income is about $77,397 and unemployment recently ran 8.6% (U.S. 4.2%). Commutes average 24 minutes. Violent-offense rates run about 455.1 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 108U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $347,300U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,371U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $77,397U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 8.6%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 24 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 455.1per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 96°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Bakersfield compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 417,468City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $77,397Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg ($78,538)U.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 108ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year8% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $347,300City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year14% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,371City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg ($1,348)U.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 8.6%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 20264.4 pts above U.S. rateU.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 24 minNear catalog avg (25 min)Catalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 3816% below catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 455.1per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)19% below catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 4141.9per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)38% above catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 96°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals9.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 41°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals6.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 6.4 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals81% below catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 327As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals22% above catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Bakersfield grew 19.6% from 348,987 in 2010 to 417,468 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Bakersfield, CA expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Bakersfield's housing cost index is 108 versus 100 nationally — near the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($347,300 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,371 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 108 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $347,300 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,371 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Bakersfield, CA?
Typical ownership costs center near $347,300, while median gross rent is about $1,371 a month. Against a median household income of $77,397, rent alone is roughly 21% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $347,300
- Median rent $1,371/month
- Median household income $77,397
What is the job market like in Bakersfield, CA?
County unemployment recently ran 8.6% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Bakersfield is about $77,397 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 8.6% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $77,397
How long is the typical commute in Bakersfield, CA?
Average one-way commute time is about 24 minutes, with Walk Score near 38/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 24 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 38/100
Is Bakersfield, CA safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 455.1 per 100k and property about 4141.9 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 455.1 per 100k
- Property 4141.9 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Bakersfield, CA?
Normals show summer highs near 96°F, winter lows near 41°F, about 6.4 inches of rain, and roughly 327 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 96°F
- Winter low 41°F
- 6.4 in rain · 327 sunny days
Bakersfield, California counts about 417,468 residents inside the city limits. Households here report a median income near $77,397; our housing-derived cost index is about 108 (close to the national housing-cost baseline). A typical home near $347,300 and rents around $1,371 frame most shortlists.
Pacific weather, wildfire seasons, and housing scarcity dominate relocation tradeoffs. Roughly 327 sunny days a year give outdoor routines unusual calendar reliability. Commutes average near 24 minutes one-way, with walkability near 38/100. Unemployment near 8.6% is elevated versus many peer cities, so industry mix matters more in a move decision. Violent-offense rates near 455.1 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Bakersfield sits in that mid-to-large city band where urban and quieter residential pockets often share one municipal boundary. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Bakersfield with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Bakersfield city, 1600000US0603526) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Kern County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00023155 BAKERSFIELD AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19