City comparison
No. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Median rent is the same in both cities, $1,472 a month.
Safety is where Dallas and Bakersfield split most clearly. Bakersfield scores 40 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Dallas and $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Dallas costs less and Bakersfield pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Bakersfield has rougher pockets and Dallas has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Dallas and Bakersfield are 1,281 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent stays $1,472 a month in both cities.
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $10,022 (14%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 148 in Bakersfield, down 40 points (21%).
The move
Bakersfield and Dallas are 1,281 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent stays $1,472 a month in both cities.
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $70,518 in Dallas, down $10,022 (12%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 188 in Dallas, up 40 points (27%).
Dallas, TX
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 Dallas and Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
Neck and neck
Dallas and Bakersfield are about even on rent.
Dallas
$1,472/mo
Bakersfield
$1,472/mo
Typical rent in Dallas is $1,472 a month versus $1,472 in Bakersfield, close enough that housing cost should not decide the move by itself. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets, then pick the city that wins the categories you actually live in: safety, schools, pay, or weather.
Planning to buy in Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 14% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Bakersfield (about $10,022 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. Dallas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
21% lower crime
Bakersfield's crime index is 21% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% lower in Bakersfield. 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, Bakersfield is the easier city. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Dallas and Bakersfield are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Bakersfield
73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Bakersfield sits near 73°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 Dallas
On these five categories Bakersfield takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Dallas because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Dallas only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Bakersfield is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% higher here ($80,540). Start with Bakersfield if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bakersfield is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than Dallas (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
Dallas carries the heavier crime signal on this page (41/100 safety vs 48/100 in Bakersfield). That 7-point spread matters more than the $0 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Median income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $70,518 in Dallas — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Bakersfield clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Dallas deserves a serious look only when you already know the Dallas block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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