City comparison
No. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Chicago is cheaper. Median rent is $1,440 a month versus $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Chicago and Bakersfield. Chicago averages 53°F while Bakersfield averages 73°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,440 versus $1,472.
Bakersfield is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Chicago 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 Chicago in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Chicago and Bakersfield are 1,741 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, up $32 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $2,638 (3%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 148 in Bakersfield, down 19 points (11%).
The move
Bakersfield and Chicago are 1,741 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,440 a month in Chicago, down $32 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $77,902 in Chicago, down $2,638 (3%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 167 in Chicago, up 19 points (13%).
Chicago, IL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Chicago and Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Chicago rent is 2% cheaper than Bakersfield
Chicago
Winner$1,440/mo
Bakersfield
$1,472/mo
Typical rent runs $1,440 a month in Chicago versus $1,472 in Bakersfield, so Chicago is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $32, or $384 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
3% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 3% higher than Chicago
Chicago
$77,902
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $77,902 in Chicago, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Bakersfield (about $2,638 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 Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 167 in Chicago (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 Chicago. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 52% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Bakersfield
Winner73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chicago averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs). Chicago averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Bakersfield scores 52% 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 Chicago if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Chicago
Chicago is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,440 a month. Choose Chicago 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 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 3% 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 Chicago (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.
Bottom line
Bakersfield runs 73°F typical weather against 53°F in Chicago (comfort scores 100 vs 66). Housing is $1,472/month versus $1,440/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
Chicago rent at $1,440/month is still below Bakersfield's $1,472, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $77,902 in Chicago.
Chicago clears the bar on climate in this dataset. Bakersfield deserves a serious look only when you would rather tolerate 73°F than optimize for Chicago's comfort score.
Common questions
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