City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 148 in Bakersfield, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Bakersfield and Madison. Bakersfield averages 73°F while Madison averages 48°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,472 versus $1,413.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison costs less and Bakersfield 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 crime gap is citywide. Madison has rougher pockets and Bakersfield has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Bakersfield and Madison are 1,662 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $59 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $78,050 in Madison, down $2,490 (3%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 91 in Madison, down 57 points (39%).
The move
Madison and Bakersfield are 1,662 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, up $59 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $2,490 (3%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 148 in Bakersfield, up 57 points (63%).
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Madison, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Bakersfield and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Madison rent is 4% cheaper than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
$1,472/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,472 in Bakersfield, so Madison is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $59, or $708 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 Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 3% higher than Madison
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Bakersfield (about $2,490 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
39% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 39% lower than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
148 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 148 in Bakersfield (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% lower in Madison. 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, Madison 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
92% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 92% more comfortable than Madison
Bakersfield
Winner73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Madison averages around 48°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Bakersfield scores 92% 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 Madison 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
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 3% 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
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $1,413 a month. Choose Madison if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Bakersfield (91 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
Bakersfield runs 73°F typical weather against 48°F in Madison (comfort scores 100 vs 52). Housing is $1,472/month versus $1,413/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
Madison rent at $1,413/month is still below Bakersfield's $1,472, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $78,050 in Madison.
Madison clears the bar on climate in this dataset. Bakersfield deserves a serious look only when you would rather tolerate 73°F than optimize for Madison's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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