City comparison
Yes. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 158 in Pittsburgh, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 147, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Bakersfield and Pittsburgh. Bakersfield averages 73°F while Pittsburgh averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,472 versus $1,261.
Bakersfield is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Pittsburgh makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Bakersfield is the stronger move.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Pittsburgh in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Bakersfield and Pittsburgh are 2,138 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $211 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $14,798 (18%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 158 in Pittsburgh, up 10 points (7%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Bakersfield are 2,138 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, up $211 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $14,798 (23%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 148 in Bakersfield, down 10 points (6%).
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Pittsburgh, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Bakersfield and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 14% cheaper than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
$1,472/mo
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,472 in Bakersfield, so Pittsburgh 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 $2,532, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Pittsburgh 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
23% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 23% higher than Pittsburgh
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Bakersfield (about $14,798 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. Pittsburgh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
6% lower crime
Bakersfield's crime index is 6% lower than Pittsburgh
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
158 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 158 in Pittsburgh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 6% lower in Bakersfield. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Bakersfield, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Pittsburgh. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 64% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Bakersfield
Winner73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Bakersfield scores 64% 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 Pittsburgh 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 23% 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.
Bakersfield is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 6% lower than Pittsburgh (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 Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,261 a month. Choose Pittsburgh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Pittsburgh (51°F) and Bakersfield (73°F) are not interchangeable on climate — about 22°F apart on typical temperatures. Rent ($1,261 vs $1,472) and pay ($65,742 vs $80,540) still matter, yet most movers regret ignoring the forecast row.
Pittsburgh rent at $1,261/month is still below Bakersfield's $1,472, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,261 in Pittsburgh and $1,472 in Bakersfield.
If climate drives your move, Pittsburgh is the stronger match (51°F typical weather versus 73°F). If an employer or family tie already points to Bakersfield, treat $1,472/month rent and $80,540 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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