City comparison
No. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
Safety is where Denver and Bakersfield split most clearly. Bakersfield scores 123 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver and $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Bakersfield is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Denver 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.
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
Denver and Bakersfield are 825 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $359 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $80,540 in Bakersfield, down $14,178 (15%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 148 in Bakersfield, down 123 points (45%).
The move
Bakersfield and Denver are 825 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $359 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $94,718 in Denver, up $14,178 (18%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 271 in Denver, up 123 points (83%).
Denver, CO
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 Denver and Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 20% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $1,831 in Denver, so Bakersfield is 20% 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 $4,308, 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 Denver.
Planning to buy in Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Denver's median income is 18% higher than Bakersfield
Denver
Winner$94,718
Bakersfield
$80,540
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $80,540 in Bakersfield, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Denver (about $14,178 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, Denver 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
45% lower crime
Bakersfield's crime index is 45% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 9% more comfortable than Denver
Denver
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Bakersfield
Winner73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Bakersfield scores 9% 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 Denver 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 and professional growth
Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($94,718). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Bakersfield is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% 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.
Pick Bakersfield if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Denver on this page's weather index by 9%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but Bakersfield is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bakersfield is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 45% lower than Denver (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
Safety is the widest gap: Bakersfield scores 48/100 versus 30/100 in Denver. Rent is $1,472/month in Bakersfield and $1,831/month in Denver, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Denver still pays more locally ($94,718 median income vs $80,540), which can offset the lease if your field pays Denver rates.
Median income is $94,718 in Denver versus $80,540 in Bakersfield.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Bakersfield; Denver only makes sense when you have walked the Denver ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,831 rent.
Common questions
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