City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 148 in Bakersfield, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,472 in Bakersfield.
The income gap between Bakersfield and Newark is significant: $80,540 median household versus $52,060. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,472 in Bakersfield and $1,392 in Newark.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Newark 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Newark in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Bakersfield and Newark are 2,441 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $80 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $52,060 in Newark, down $28,480 (35%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 136 in Newark, down 12 points (8%).
The move
Newark and Bakersfield are 2,441 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, up $80 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $28,480 (55%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 148 in Bakersfield, up 12 points (9%).
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Newark, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Bakersfield and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Newark rent is 5% cheaper than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
$1,472/mo
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,472 in Bakersfield, so Newark is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $80, or $960 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 Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
55% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 55% higher than Newark
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 55% higher in Bakersfield (about $28,480 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. Newark can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
8% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 8% lower than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
148 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 148 in Bakersfield (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 8% lower in Newark. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Newark, 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
45% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 45% more comfortable than Newark
Bakersfield
Winner73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Bakersfield scores 45% 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 Newark 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 55% 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
Newark is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,392 a month. Choose Newark if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Newark is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 8% lower than Bakersfield (136 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 posts $80,540 median household income against $52,060 in Newark. That 35% pay gap is the story when rents are $1,392 in Newark and $1,472 in Bakersfield.
With only $80 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Safety scores read 48/100 in Bakersfield and 51/100 in Newark.
Between Bakersfield and Newark, Bakersfield is ahead on local pay — $80,540 median income against $52,060. Lean Newark instead when keeping rent near $1,392/month beats chasing $80,540 median income.
Common questions
Ready to move to Newark?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Newark when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Bakersfield and Newark, plus other cities in CA and NJ.
