City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 148 in Bakersfield, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Safety is where Bakersfield and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 101 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 $2,110 in Gilbert.
This is a genuine split. Bakersfield wins on cost of living and Gilbert wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Bakersfield at $1,472 average has pockets that run $1,272 and others at $1,872: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Bakersfield and Gilbert are 435 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $638 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $42,011 (52%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 47 in Gilbert, down 101 points (68%).
The move
Gilbert and Bakersfield are 435 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $638 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $80,540 in Bakersfield, down $42,011 (34%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 148 in Bakersfield, up 101 points (215%).
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Gilbert, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Bakersfield and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 30% cheaper than Gilbert
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Bakersfield is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $638/month back in your pocket ($7,656/year). Over five years that's $38,280 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Gilbert, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Bakersfield is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
52% higher
Gilbert's median income is 52% higher than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
$80,540
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $80,540 in Bakersfield, so typical pay runs 52% higher in Gilbert (about $42,011 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, Gilbert 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
68% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 68% lower than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
148 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 148 in Bakersfield (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 68% lower in Gilbert. 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, Gilbert 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 Gilbert are about even on typical weather.
Bakersfield
73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Gilbert sits near 80°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Bakersfield
Bakersfield is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 30% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Gilbert is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 52% higher here ($122,551). Start with Gilbert if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Gilbert is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 68% lower than Bakersfield (47 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Gilbert leads on safety (83/100 vs 48/100 in Bakersfield). Typical rent is $2,110 in Gilbert and $1,472 in Bakersfield; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Gilbert still pays more locally ($122,551 median income vs $80,540), which can offset the lease if your field pays Gilbert rates.
Median income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $80,540 in Bakersfield.
Between Bakersfield and Gilbert, Gilbert is ahead on safety — 83/100 safety versus 48/100. Lean Bakersfield instead when you already know the Bakersfield block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Bakersfield and Gilbert, plus other cities in CA and AZ.
