City comparison
No. Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 148 in Bakersfield, and its violent crime index is 135 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,528 in Glendale.
Bakersfield and Glendale are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,472 in Bakersfield and $1,528 in Glendale, and median household income lands at $80,540 versus $73,530. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Bakersfield is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Glendale 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.
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
Bakersfield and Glendale are 409 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,528 a month in Glendale, up $56 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $73,530 in Glendale, down $7,010 (9%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 144 in Glendale, down 4 points (3%).
The move
Glendale and Bakersfield are 409 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $56 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $7,010 (10%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 148 in Bakersfield, up 4 points (3%).
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Glendale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Bakersfield and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 4% cheaper than Glendale
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
Glendale
$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $1,528 in Glendale, so Bakersfield is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $56, or $672 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
10% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 10% higher than Glendale
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
Glendale
$73,530
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $73,530 in Glendale, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Bakersfield (about $7,010 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
3% lower crime
Glendale's crime index is 3% lower than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
148 (100 = avg)
Glendale
Winner144 (100 = avg)
Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 148 in Bakersfield (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 3% lower in Glendale. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Glendale, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Bakersfield. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 3% more comfortable than Glendale
Bakersfield
Winner73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Glendale
81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Glendale averages around 81°F. Bakersfield scores 3% 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 Glendale 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 plus year-round outdoor access
Bakersfield is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 10% higher ($80,540), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 73°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Glendale is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 3% lower than Bakersfield (144 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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Bakersfield at $80,540 median income versus $73,530 in Glendale. Housing ($1,528 in Glendale, $1,472 in Bakersfield) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
With only $56 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Weather averages land near 73°F in Bakersfield and 81°F in Glendale.
Pick Bakersfield when your field pays toward $80,540 median income. Otherwise, Glendale's case rests on a $1,528 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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