City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 148 in Bakersfield, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Safety is where Bakersfield and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 49 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 $1,619 in Irving.
This is a genuine split. Bakersfield wins on cost of living and Irving 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 crime gap is citywide. Irving has rougher pockets and Bakersfield has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Bakersfield and Irving are 1,272 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $147 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $81,830 in Irving, up $1,290 (2%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 99 in Irving, down 49 points (33%).
The move
Irving and Bakersfield are 1,272 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $147 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $80,540 in Bakersfield, down $1,290 (2%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 148 in Bakersfield, up 49 points (49%).
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irving, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Bakersfield and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 9% cheaper than Irving
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $1,619 in Irving, so Bakersfield is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $147, or $1,764 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 Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Irving's median income is 2% higher than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
$80,540
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $80,540 in Bakersfield, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Irving (about $1,290 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
33% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 33% lower than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
148 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 148 in Bakersfield (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% lower in Irving. 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, Irving 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 Irving are about even on typical weather.
Bakersfield
73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irving
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving sits near 70°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 9% 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
Irving is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% higher here ($81,830). Start with Irving if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Irving is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 33% lower than Bakersfield (99 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 Irving: Irving scores 60/100 versus 48/100 in Bakersfield, with typical rent at $1,619 versus $1,472. I would vet the exact ZIP in Bakersfield before trading 12 safety points for housing savings.
With only $147 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $81,830 in Irving versus $80,540 in Bakersfield.
Pick Irving when you want the stronger safety signal (60/100). Otherwise, Bakersfield's case rests on a Bakersfield ZIP you trust at $1,472 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Irving when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Bakersfield and Irving, plus other cities in CA and TX.
