City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 148 in Bakersfield, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Bakersfield and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 86 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 $1,841 in Plano.
This is a genuine split. Bakersfield wins on cost of living and Plano wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Bakersfield at $1,472 average has pockets that run $1,272 and others at $1,872: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Bakersfield and Plano are 1,283 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $369 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $112,253 in Plano, up $31,713 (39%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 62 in Plano, down 86 points (58%).
The move
Plano and Bakersfield are 1,283 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $369 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $80,540 in Bakersfield, down $31,713 (28%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 148 in Bakersfield, up 86 points (139%).
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Plano, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Bakersfield and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 20% cheaper than Plano
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $1,841 in Plano, so Bakersfield is 20% 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 $4,428, 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 Plano.
Planning to buy in Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
39% higher
Plano's median income is 39% higher than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
$80,540
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $80,540 in Bakersfield, so typical pay runs 39% higher in Plano (about $31,713 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, Plano is the stronger labor market on paper. Bakersfield 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
Plano's crime index is 58% lower than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
148 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 148 in Bakersfield (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 58% lower in Plano. 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, Plano 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 Plano are about even on typical weather.
Bakersfield
73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano sits near 69°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Bakersfield
Bakersfield is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Plano is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 39% higher here ($112,253). Start with Plano if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Plano 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 Bakersfield (62 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
Safety is the widest gap: Plano scores 75/100 versus 48/100 in Bakersfield. Rent is $1,841/month in Plano and $1,472/month in Bakersfield, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Bakersfield rent at $1,472/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,472 in Bakersfield and $1,841 in Plano.
Plano is ahead on safety (75/100 vs 48/100); Bakersfield is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,472/month rent plus $80,540 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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