City comparison
No. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
The income gap between Austin and Bakersfield is significant: $93,658 median household versus $80,540. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,729 in Austin and $1,472 in Bakersfield.
This is a genuine split. Austin wins on the job market and Bakersfield wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Austin and Bakersfield are 1,282 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $257 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $80,540 in Bakersfield, down $13,118 (14%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 148 in Bakersfield, down 14 points (9%).
The move
Bakersfield and Austin are 1,282 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $257 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $93,658 in Austin, up $13,118 (16%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 162 in Austin, up 14 points (9%).
Austin, TX
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 Austin and Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 15% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $1,729 in Austin, so Bakersfield is 15% 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 $3,084, 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 Austin.
Planning to buy in Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Austin's median income is 16% higher than Bakersfield
Austin
Winner$93,658
Bakersfield
$80,540
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $80,540 in Bakersfield, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Austin (about $13,118 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. Bakersfield can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
9% lower crime
Bakersfield's crime index is 9% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 9% lower in Bakersfield. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Bakersfield, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Austin. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Austin and Bakersfield are about even on typical weather.
Austin
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Bakersfield
73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 16% higher here ($93,658). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Bakersfield is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% 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.
Bakersfield is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 9% lower than Austin (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
Austin posts $93,658 median household income against $80,540 in Bakersfield. That 14% pay gap is the story when rents are $1,472 in Bakersfield and $1,729 in Austin.
Austin still pays more locally ($93,658 median income vs $80,540), which can offset the lease if your field pays Austin rates.
Safety scores read 45/100 in Austin and 48/100 in Bakersfield.
Austin leads on local pay ($93,658 median income vs $80,540), even though rent runs $1,729 versus $1,472 — skip Austin only if you are optimizing for the cheaper lease, not the paycheck.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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