City comparison
No. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 148 in Bakersfield, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
Safety is where Bakersfield and Tampa split most clearly. Tampa scores 55 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 $1,701 in Tampa.
This is a genuine split. Bakersfield wins on cost of living and the job market and Tampa wins on safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Tampa has rougher pockets and Bakersfield has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Bakersfield and Tampa are 2,197 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $229 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $75,475 in Tampa, down $5,065 (6%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 93 in Tampa, down 55 points (37%).
The move
Tampa and Bakersfield are 2,197 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $229 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $5,065 (7%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 148 in Bakersfield, up 55 points (59%).
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Tampa, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Bakersfield and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 13% cheaper than Tampa
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
Tampa
$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $1,701 in Tampa, so Bakersfield 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 $2,748, 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 Tampa.
Planning to buy in Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 7% higher than Tampa
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
Tampa
$75,475
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $75,475 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Bakersfield (about $5,065 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
37% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 37% lower than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
148 (100 = avg)
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 148 in Bakersfield (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 37% lower in Tampa. 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, Tampa 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 Tampa are about even on typical weather.
Bakersfield
73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tampa
75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tampa sits near 75°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Bakersfield is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% 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.
Bakersfield is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 7% higher here ($80,540). Start with Bakersfield if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 37% lower than Bakersfield (93 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Tampa: Tampa scores 62/100 versus 48/100 in Bakersfield, with typical rent at $1,701 versus $1,472. I would vet the exact ZIP in Bakersfield before trading 14 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (62/100 in Tampa vs 48/100 in Bakersfield), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $75,475 in Tampa.
If safety drives your move, Tampa is the stronger match (62/100 safety versus 48/100). 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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