City comparison
No. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,711 in Atlanta.
Safety is where Atlanta and Bakersfield split most clearly. Bakersfield scores 49 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,711 in Atlanta and $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Bakersfield is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Atlanta makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Bakersfield is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Bakersfield has rougher pockets and Atlanta has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Atlanta and Bakersfield are 1,964 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $239 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $80,540 in Bakersfield, down $5,112 (6%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 148 in Bakersfield, down 49 points (25%).
The move
Bakersfield and Atlanta are 1,964 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, up $239 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $85,652 in Atlanta, up $5,112 (6%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 197 in Atlanta, up 49 points (33%).
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Atlanta and Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 14% cheaper than Atlanta
Atlanta
$1,711/mo
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $1,711 in Atlanta, so Bakersfield is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,868, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Bakersfield still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Atlanta.
Planning to buy in Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Atlanta's median income is 6% higher than Bakersfield
Atlanta
Winner$85,652
Bakersfield
$80,540
Median household income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $80,540 in Bakersfield, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Atlanta (about $5,112 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
25% lower crime
Bakersfield's crime index is 25% lower than Atlanta
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% lower in Bakersfield. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Bakersfield is the easier city. Atlanta can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 12% more comfortable than Atlanta
Atlanta
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Bakersfield
Winner73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs); Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs). Atlanta averages around 61°F. Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Bakersfield scores 12% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Atlanta if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Atlanta is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($85,652). Start with Atlanta if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Bakersfield is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Bakersfield if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Bakersfield if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Atlanta on this page's weather index by 12%. Atlanta may pay more or cost less, but Bakersfield is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bakersfield is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 25% lower than Atlanta (148 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Bakersfield: Bakersfield scores 48/100 versus 39/100 in Atlanta, with typical rent at $1,472 versus $1,711. I would vet the exact ZIP in Atlanta before trading 9 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (48/100 in Bakersfield vs 39/100 in Atlanta), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,472 in Bakersfield and $1,711 in Atlanta.
Bakersfield clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Atlanta deserves a serious look only when you already know the Atlanta block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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