City comparison
No. Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 148 in Bakersfield, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
The cost gap between Bakersfield and Santa Ana is the real story here. Bakersfield comes in 29% cheaper on typical rent ($1,472 vs $2,082), which over a year adds up to $7,320. Median household income runs $80,540 in Bakersfield and $93,999 in Santa Ana.
This is a genuine split. Bakersfield wins on cost of living and Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana are 130 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $610 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $93,999 in Santa Ana, up $13,459 (17%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 107 in Santa Ana, down 41 points (28%).
The move
Santa Ana and Bakersfield are 130 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $610 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $80,540 in Bakersfield, down $13,459 (14%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 148 in Bakersfield, up 41 points (38%).
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Santa Ana, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Bakersfield and Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
29% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 29% cheaper than Santa Ana
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so Bakersfield is 29% cheaper. That's roughly $610/month back in your pocket ($7,320/year). Over five years that's $36,600 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Santa Ana, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Bakersfield is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
17% higher
Santa Ana's median income is 17% higher than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
$80,540
Santa Ana
Winner$93,999
Median household income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $80,540 in Bakersfield, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Santa Ana (about $13,459 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, Santa Ana 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
28% lower crime
Santa Ana's crime index is 28% lower than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
148 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana
Winner107 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 148 in Bakersfield (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 28% lower in Santa Ana. 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, Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana are about even on typical weather.
Bakersfield
73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Santa Ana
72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); Santa Ana averages about 72°F (78°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Santa Ana sits near 72°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 29% 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
Santa Ana is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 17% higher here ($93,999). Start with Santa Ana if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Santa Ana is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 28% lower than Bakersfield (107 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
On rent alone, Bakersfield undercuts Santa Ana by $610/month ($1,472 vs $2,082). I would not pick Santa Ana on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Bakersfield rent at $1,472/month is still below Santa Ana's $2,082, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $80,540 in Bakersfield.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in Bakersfield; Santa Ana only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Santa Ana at $93,999 income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Bakersfield and Santa Ana, plus other cities in CA.
