City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 148 in Bakersfield, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Safety is where El Paso and Bakersfield split most clearly. El Paso scores 61 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,073 in El Paso and $1,472 in Bakersfield.
This is a genuine split. El Paso wins on cost of living and safety and Bakersfield wins on the job market. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
El Paso and Bakersfield are 763 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, up $399 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $20,795 (35%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 148 in Bakersfield, up 61 points (70%).
The move
Bakersfield and El Paso are 763 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $399 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $59,745 in El Paso, down $20,795 (26%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 87 in El Paso, down 61 points (41%).
El Paso, 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 El Paso and Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
El Paso rent is 27% cheaper than Bakersfield
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Bakersfield
$1,472/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,472 in Bakersfield, so El Paso is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $399/month back in your pocket ($4,788/year). Over five years that's $23,940 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Bakersfield, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, El Paso is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
35% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 35% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Bakersfield (about $20,795 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. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
41% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 41% lower than Bakersfield
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield
148 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 148 in Bakersfield (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 41% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso 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
El Paso and Bakersfield are about even on typical weather.
El Paso
66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Bakersfield
73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°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
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 27% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 41% lower than Bakersfield (87 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
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 35% higher here ($80,540). Start with Bakersfield if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Bakersfield carries the heavier crime signal on this page (48/100 safety vs 64/100 in El Paso). That 16-point spread matters more than the $399 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Bakersfield still pays more locally ($80,540 median income vs $59,745), which can offset the lease if your field pays Bakersfield rates.
Median income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $59,745 in El Paso.
Pick El Paso when you want the stronger safety signal (64/100). Otherwise, Bakersfield's case rests on a Bakersfield ZIP you trust at $1,472 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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