City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 148 in Bakersfield, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Safety is where Bakersfield and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 61 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 $1,641 in Garland.
This is a genuine split. Bakersfield wins on cost of living and the job market and Garland wins on safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Garland has rougher pockets and Bakersfield has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Bakersfield and Garland are 1,288 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $169 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $76,320 in Garland, down $4,220 (5%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 87 in Garland, down 61 points (41%).
The move
Garland and Bakersfield are 1,288 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $169 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $4,220 (6%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 148 in Bakersfield, up 61 points (70%).
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Garland, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Bakersfield and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 10% cheaper than Garland
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $1,641 in Garland, so Bakersfield is 10% 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 $2,028, 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 Garland.
Planning to buy in Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 6% higher than Garland
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Bakersfield (about $4,220 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
41% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 41% lower than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
148 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 148 in Bakersfield (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 41% lower in Garland. 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, Garland 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
Neck and neck
Bakersfield and Garland are about even on typical weather.
Bakersfield
73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland sits near 66°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
Bakersfield is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($80,540). Start with Bakersfield 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
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 41% lower than Bakersfield (87 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 Garland: Garland scores 64/100 versus 48/100 in Bakersfield, with typical rent at $1,641 versus $1,472. I would vet the exact ZIP in Bakersfield before trading 16 safety points for housing savings.
With only $169 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $76,320 in Garland.
Garland clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Bakersfield deserves a serious look only when you already know the Bakersfield block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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