City comparison
Yes. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 169 in Richmond, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Richmond is cheaper. Median rent is $1,372 a month versus $1,472 in Bakersfield.
The income gap between Bakersfield and Richmond is significant: $80,540 median household versus $64,587. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,472 in Bakersfield and $1,372 in Richmond.
Bakersfield is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Richmond 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Bakersfield and Richmond are 2,295 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,372 a month in Richmond, down $100 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $64,587 in Richmond, down $15,953 (20%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 169 in Richmond, up 21 points (14%).
The move
Richmond and Bakersfield are 2,295 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, up $100 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $15,953 (25%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 148 in Bakersfield, down 21 points (12%).
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Bakersfield and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Richmond rent is 7% cheaper than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
$1,472/mo
Richmond
Winner$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,372 a month in Richmond versus $1,472 in Bakersfield, so Richmond is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $100, or $1,200 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 Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
25% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 25% higher than Richmond
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
Richmond
$64,587
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Bakersfield (about $15,953 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. Richmond can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
12% lower crime
Bakersfield's crime index is 12% lower than Richmond
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
Richmond
169 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 169 in Richmond (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 12% 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 Richmond. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 28% more comfortable than Richmond
Bakersfield
Winner68°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Richmond
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Bakersfield averages about 68°F (81°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Bakersfield scores 28% 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 Richmond 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 25% higher ($80,540), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°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 12% lower than Richmond (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 Richmond
Richmond is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,372 a month. Choose Richmond if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Pay is the headline: Bakersfield median income is $80,540 versus $64,587 in Richmond (20% higher). Rent still runs $1,472/month in Bakersfield and $1,372/month in Richmond, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Bakersfield rates.
With only $100 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Safety scores read 48/100 in Bakersfield and 44/100 in Richmond.
Bakersfield clears the bar on local pay in this dataset. Richmond deserves a serious look only when keeping rent near $1,372/month beats chasing $80,540 median income.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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