City comparison
No. North Las Vegas's crime index is 110 versus 148 in Bakersfield, and its violent crime index is 110 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,705 in North Las Vegas.
Safety is where Bakersfield and North Las Vegas split most clearly. North Las Vegas scores 38 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 $1,705 in North Las Vegas.
This is a genuine split. Bakersfield wins on cost of living and the job market and North Las Vegas wins on 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. North Las Vegas has rougher pockets and Bakersfield has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Bakersfield and North Las Vegas are 226 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,705 a month in North Las Vegas, up $233 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $79,542 in North Las Vegas, down $998 (1%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 110 in North Las Vegas, down 38 points (26%).
The move
North Las Vegas and Bakersfield are 226 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,705 a month in North Las Vegas to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $233 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $79,542 in North Las Vegas to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $998 (1%).
The crime index goes from 110 in North Las Vegas to 148 in Bakersfield, up 38 points (35%).
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
North Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Bakersfield and North Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 14% cheaper than North Las Vegas
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
North Las Vegas
$1,705/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $1,705 in North Las Vegas, so Bakersfield is 14% 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 $2,796, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Bakersfield still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in North Las Vegas.
Planning to buy in Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 1% higher than North Las Vegas
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
North Las Vegas
$79,542
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $79,542 in North Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Bakersfield (about $998 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
26% lower crime
North Las Vegas's crime index is 26% lower than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
148 (100 = avg)
North Las Vegas
Winner110 (100 = avg)
North Las Vegas's crime index is 110 versus 148 in Bakersfield (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% lower in North Las Vegas. 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, North Las Vegas 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 North Las Vegas are about even on typical weather.
Bakersfield
73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
North Las Vegas
76°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); North Las Vegas averages about 76°F (82°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. North Las Vegas sits near 76°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 clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% 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.
Bakersfield is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($80,540). Start with Bakersfield if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
North Las Vegas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 26% lower than Bakersfield (110 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 carries the heavier crime signal on this page (48/100 safety vs 57/100 in North Las Vegas). That 9-point spread matters more than the $233 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (57/100 in North Las Vegas vs 48/100 in Bakersfield), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $79,542 in North Las Vegas.
North Las Vegas clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Bakersfield deserves a serious look only when you already know the Bakersfield block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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