City comparison
Yes. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Bakersfield and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Safety is where Bakersfield and New Orleans split most clearly. Bakersfield scores 202 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 $1,251 in New Orleans.
This is a genuine split. Bakersfield wins on the job market and safety and New Orleans wins on cost of living. 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. Bakersfield has rougher pockets and New Orleans has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Bakersfield and New Orleans are 1,718 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $221 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $23,909 (30%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 350 in New Orleans, up 202 points (136%).
The move
New Orleans and Bakersfield are 1,718 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, up $221 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $23,909 (42%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 148 in Bakersfield, down 202 points (58%).
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Bakersfield and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 15% cheaper than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
$1,472/mo
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,472 in Bakersfield, so New Orleans is 15% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,652, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. New Orleans still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Bakersfield.
Planning to buy in Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
42% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 42% higher than New Orleans
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 42% higher in Bakersfield (about $23,909 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, Bakersfield is the stronger labor market on paper. New Orleans can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
58% lower crime
Bakersfield's crime index is 58% lower than New Orleans
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 58% lower in Bakersfield. 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, Bakersfield is the easier city. New Orleans 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 New Orleans are about even on typical weather.
Bakersfield
73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
New Orleans
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. New Orleans sits near 73°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Bakersfield is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 42% higher here ($80,540). Start with Bakersfield if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bakersfield is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 58% lower than New Orleans (148 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to New Orleans
New Orleans is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,251 a month. Choose New Orleans if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Bakersfield scores 48/100 versus 22/100 in New Orleans. Rent is $1,472/month in Bakersfield and $1,251/month in New Orleans, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/month is still below Bakersfield's $1,472, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Bakersfield is ahead on safety (48/100 vs 22/100); New Orleans is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,251/month rent plus $56,631 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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