City comparison
Yes. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 166 in St Paul, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 160, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Bakersfield and St Paul. Bakersfield averages 73°F while St Paul averages 50°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,472 versus $1,281.
Bakersfield is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Paul 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 St Paul in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Bakersfield and St Paul are 1,511 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $191 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $73,394 in St Paul, down $7,146 (9%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 166 in St Paul, up 18 points (12%).
The move
St Paul and Bakersfield are 1,511 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, up $191 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $7,146 (10%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 148 in Bakersfield, down 18 points (11%).
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Paul, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Bakersfield and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
St Paul rent is 13% cheaper than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
$1,472/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,472 in Bakersfield, so St Paul is 13% 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 $2,292, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Paul 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
10% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 10% higher than St Paul
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
St Paul
$73,394
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Bakersfield (about $7,146 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
11% lower crime
Bakersfield's crime index is 11% lower than St Paul
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
St Paul
166 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 166 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% 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 St Paul. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 72% more comfortable than St Paul
Bakersfield
Winner73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Bakersfield scores 72% 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 St Paul 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 10% 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 11% lower than St Paul (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 St Paul
St Paul is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,281 a month. Choose St Paul if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
St Paul (50°F) and Bakersfield (73°F) are not interchangeable on climate — about 23°F apart on typical temperatures. Rent ($1,281 vs $1,472) and pay ($73,394 vs $80,540) still matter, yet most movers regret ignoring the forecast row.
With only $191 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Safety scores read 48/100 in Bakersfield and 45/100 in St Paul.
If climate drives your move, St Paul is the stronger match (50°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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