City comparison
No. Chesapeake's crime index is 97 versus 148 in Bakersfield, and its violent crime index is 96 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,586 in Chesapeake.
Safety is where Bakersfield and Chesapeake split most clearly. Chesapeake scores 51 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Bakersfield and $1,586 in Chesapeake.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Bakersfield costs less and Chesapeake pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Chesapeake has rougher pockets and Bakersfield has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Bakersfield and Chesapeake are 2,368 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,586 a month in Chesapeake, up $114 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $95,373 in Chesapeake, up $14,833 (18%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 97 in Chesapeake, down 51 points (34%).
The move
Chesapeake and Bakersfield are 2,368 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Chesapeake to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $114 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $95,373 in Chesapeake to $80,540 in Bakersfield, down $14,833 (16%).
The crime index goes from 97 in Chesapeake to 148 in Bakersfield, up 51 points (53%).
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Chesapeake, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Bakersfield and Chesapeake? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 7% cheaper than Chesapeake
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
Chesapeake
$1,586/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $1,586 in Chesapeake, so Bakersfield is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $114, or $1,368 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Chesapeake's median income is 18% higher than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
$80,540
Chesapeake
Winner$95,373
Median household income is $95,373 in Chesapeake versus $80,540 in Bakersfield, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Chesapeake (about $14,833 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, Chesapeake 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
34% lower crime
Chesapeake's crime index is 34% lower than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
148 (100 = avg)
Chesapeake
Winner97 (100 = avg)
Chesapeake's crime index is 97 versus 148 in Bakersfield (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% lower in Chesapeake. 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, Chesapeake is the easier city. Bakersfield can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 20% more comfortable than Chesapeake
Bakersfield
Winner73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chesapeake
59°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 83/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); Chesapeake averages about 59°F (66°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Chesapeake averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Bakersfield scores 20% 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 Chesapeake if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 7% 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 Chesapeake on this page's weather index by 20%. Chesapeake may pay more or cost less, but Bakersfield is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Chesapeake is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($95,373). Start with Chesapeake if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Chesapeake is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 34% lower than Bakersfield (97 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
Bakersfield carries the heavier crime signal on this page (48/100 safety vs 61/100 in Chesapeake). That 13-point spread matters more than the $114 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (61/100 in Chesapeake vs 48/100 in Bakersfield), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $95,373 in Chesapeake versus $80,540 in Bakersfield.
Pick Chesapeake when you want the stronger safety signal (61/100). Otherwise, Bakersfield's case rests on a Bakersfield ZIP you trust at $1,472 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Bakersfield and Chesapeake, plus other cities in CA and VA.
