City comparison
No. Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 148 in Bakersfield, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $2,007 in Jersey City.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Bakersfield and Jersey City. Bakersfield averages 73°F while Jersey City averages 53°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,472 versus $2,007.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Bakersfield costs less and Jersey City 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 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 Jersey City are 2,446 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $2,007 a month in Jersey City, up $535 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $97,710 in Jersey City, up $17,170 (21%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 135 in Jersey City, down 13 points (9%).
The move
Jersey City and Bakersfield are 2,446 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,007 a month in Jersey City to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $535 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $97,710 in Jersey City to $80,540 in Bakersfield, down $17,170 (18%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Jersey City to 148 in Bakersfield, up 13 points (10%).
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Jersey City, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Bakersfield and Jersey City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 27% cheaper than Jersey City
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
Jersey City
$2,007/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $2,007 in Jersey City, so Bakersfield is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $535/month back in your pocket ($6,420/year). Over five years that's $32,100 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 Jersey City, 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 Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
21% higher
Jersey City's median income is 21% higher than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
$80,540
Jersey City
Winner$97,710
Median household income is $97,710 in Jersey City versus $80,540 in Bakersfield, so typical pay runs 21% higher in Jersey City (about $17,170 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, Jersey City 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
9% lower crime
Jersey City's crime index is 9% lower than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
148 (100 = avg)
Jersey City
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 148 in Bakersfield (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 9% lower in Jersey City. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Jersey City, 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
52% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 52% more comfortable than Jersey City
Bakersfield
Winner73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jersey City
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); Jersey City averages about 53°F (58°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Jersey City averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Bakersfield scores 52% 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 Jersey City 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 27% 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 Jersey City on this page's weather index by 52%. Jersey City 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
Jersey City is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 21% higher here ($97,710). Start with Jersey City if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Jersey City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 9% lower than Bakersfield (135 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
Weather separates these metros: $1,472/month rent in Bakersfield at 73°F versus $2,007 in Jersey City at 53°F. Income runs $80,540 vs $97,710, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Jersey City still pays more locally ($97,710 median income vs $80,540), which can offset the lease if your field pays Jersey City rates.
Median income is $97,710 in Jersey City versus $80,540 in Bakersfield.
Between Bakersfield and Jersey City, Bakersfield is ahead on climate — 73°F typical weather versus 53°F. Lean Jersey City instead when you would rather tolerate 53°F than optimize for Bakersfield's comfort score.
Common questions
Ready to move to Bakersfield?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Bakersfield when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Bakersfield and Jersey City, plus other cities in CA and NJ.
